Diet Influences Alzheimer’s Disease Risk

Following a “Mediterranean-style diet” rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains may protect against Alzheimer’s disease risk factors, according to a study published in Neurology. Researchers compared neuropsychological evaluations and diet records for 70 participants between the ages of 30 to 60. Diet records scored adherence to the diet via numeric values for foods associated with protective effects such as legumes, fruits, and vegetables and detrimental foods such as meat and dairy products. Those who consumed more plant-based foods showed fewer Alzheimer’s disease-related biomarker changes on their brain scans when compared to those who did not follow the diet as closely. These results support further investigation of dietary interventions as an effective preventive measure against Alzheimer’s disease. The authors noted that modifiable risk factors, such as diet, account for 1 in every 3 Alzheimer’s disease cases.