science
Study Links Healthy Plant-Based Diets to Lower Dementia Risk in Adults Over 50
A study published in Neurology examined data from nearly 93,000 adults and found associations between healthy plant-based diets and reduced dementia risk, even when adopted later in life. The research tracked participants for over a decade and emphasized the role of diet quality. Observational findings suggest benefits from whole foods but cannot establish causation.
Apr 9, 12:09 PM·2m read1 source
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A study published in Neurology analyzed dietary patterns and health outcomes among 92,849 adults with an average age of 59. Researchers tracked participants for 11 years, during which 21,478 developed Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia.
The study focused on plant-based diets, distinguishing between overall plant food consumption, healthy versions rich in whole foods, and unhealthy versions high in refined and processed products.
Participants consuming the highest amounts of plant foods had a 12% lower risk of dementia compared to those consuming the least. When accounting for diet quality, those following the healthiest plant-based diets showed a 7% lower risk, while those with the unhealthiest plant-based diets had a 6% higher risk.
The findings indicate an association, not causation, and highlight the importance of diet quality in potential dementia prevention.
“Plant-based diets have been shown to reduce the risk of conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, but less is known about dementia," said study author Song-Yi Park of the University of Hawaii.”
a subgroup of 45,065 participants tracked over 10 years, 8,360 developed dementia.
Those whose diets shifted toward more unhealthy plant-based foods had a 25% higher risk of dementia, while those who improved their diets experienced an 11% lower risk. Adopting a healthier plant-based diet after age 60 was associated with reduced dementia risk in this group. The study relied on self-reported food questionnaires, which may introduce inaccuracies due to recall issues.
However, the large sample size and extended follow-up period support the reliability of the associations observed. Results align with prior research on diets like the Mediterranean or MIND patterns, which emphasize whole, minimally processed foods and link to improved cognitive health.
