People who closely follow a Mediterranean-style diet have a lower risk of developing dementia and also experience cognitive benefits as they age, according to a study published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia.Why It’s Relevant
As the number of Americans living with dementia continues to rise, diet has emerged as a potential tool for prevention. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is characterized by a high intake of plant-based foods and limited red and processed meat, while the MIND diet blends the Mediterranean diet with the heart-healthy Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and emphasizes foods that are beneficial for brain health, such as leafy greens and berries.
By the Numbers
- Among 86,740 women and 43,500 men followed for up to 43 years, strong adherence to the MedDiet and the MIND diet was associated with a 21% and a 14% lower risk of dementia, respectively, compared with those with the lowest adherence.
- Each one-unit increase in participants’ MedDiet and MIND diet adherence scores was associated with a 5% and a 3% lower risk of dementia, respectively.
- Those in the highest category of diet adherence had a 40% and a 42% lower risk of self-reported subjective cognitive decline for the MedDiet and the MIND diet, respectively.
What’s More
Even if baseline adherence was low, improving adherence to the MedDiet over time was linked with benefits. Each one-unit increase in diet adherence over four years was associated with a 7% lower risk of dementia. This finding, the researchers wrote, underscores “the importance of mid-life dietary modification as an effective strategy to preserve cognitive health.”
The Other Side
Because the study was observational, confounding variables—such as that individuals who adhere to these diets likely engage in other healthy behaviors—cannot be ruled out.
Takeaway Message
“These findings provide strong evidence for the role of healthy dietary patterns in preserving cognitive function and highlight the potential of dietary interventions to mitigate both early and late stages of cognitive decline,” the researchers wrote.
Related Article
Source
Yuxi Liu, et. al. Long-term adherence and changes in the Mediterranean and MIND diets in relation to dementia risk and cognitive function. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. Published March 25, 2026. doi: 10.1002/alz.71324
(Image: Getty Images/iStock/Daniel de la Hoz)
