One important goal of public health is to help people maintain good mental acuity throughout their life.  Unfortunately, the cause of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is still poorly understood; furthermore, treatment options once AD is present are not very effective.  Therefore, anything that can help prevent or delay the onset of AD can be a significant help in dealing with this major health issue.

A recent study of 2,258 community-based people in their 70s in New York with no evidence of dementia or AD found that our diets may be helpful in preventing this disease.  The study examined the eating habits of participants at the beginning of the study and every 1.5 years for a period of 4 years.  Participants were given a score based on how closely they followed the Mediterranean diet.

The Mediterranean diet is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and emphasizes “good” fats with a high intake of legumes, nuts, and olive oil as well as fruits, vegetables and whole grains.  Fish is used moderately, and low amounts of meat, poultry and dairy products are consumed.

During the course of this study, 262 cases of AD were diagnosed.  These individuals were divided into three groups:

• Group 1 – didn’t follow the Mediterranean diet very closely and developed the highest rate of AD.
• Group 2 – partially followed the Mediterranean diet and had 15% fewer cases of AD than the first group.
• Group 3 – followed the Mediterranean diet the closes and had 40% fewer cases of AD compared to the first group.

What it Means:

These results suggest that the dietary pattern associated with the Mediterranean diet is not only good for the heart but is also good for the brain.  The researchers concluded that a higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.  If this diet does indeed help to prevent AD, then the more closely people follow it and the earlier in life these foods are incorporated into the diet, the better.

Source: Scarmeas, et al. (June 2006). Mediterranean diet and risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Annals of Neurology, 59:912-921.

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