New Research: Mediterranean Diet May Reduce Dementia Risk by 23%

Eating a “Mediterranean-type diet” can reduce the risk of developing dementia by up to 23%, according to new research.

The groundbreaking study, published Tuesday in the journal BMC Medicine, shows that people who ate a diet rich in foods such as shellfish, fruits and nuts had a much lower risk of developing the debilitating condition.

The Newcastle University team analyzed data from 60,298 people in the UK who had contributed a dietary assessment, providing information about what they ate.

The scientists scored the individuals based on how closely their diet matched key characteristics of a Mediterranean and followed those involved for nearly a decade.

The team also took into account each individual’s genetic risk of dementia.

Dr Oliver Shannon said: “Finding ways to reduce our risk of developing dementia is a top priority for researchers and clinicians.

“Our study suggests that eating a more Mediterranean diet could be one strategy to help people reduce dementia risk.”

John Mathers, Professor of Human Nutrition at Newcastle University, added: “The good news from this study is that, even for those at higher genetic risk, having a better diet reduced the likelihood of developing dementia.

“While more research is needed in this area, this strengthens the public health message that we can all help reduce our risk of dementia by eating a more Mediterranean diet.”

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