Eating a Mediterranean-style diet may reduce dementia risk. A new study shows that eating a Mediterranean-style diet reduces the risk of dementia. Older adults with higher adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet were 23 percent less likely to develop dementia than those with lower adherence.

The study involved more than 60,000 adults enrolled in the UK Biobank study. Researchers scored the participants' adherence to the Mediterranean Diet based on reports of their normal dietary intake. They estimated each participant’s genetic risk for dementia and reviewed their medical records to learn if they had been diagnosed with dementia over a period of roughly nine years.

They found that higher adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet was linked with a 14 to 23 percent lower risk of developing dementia during the study period. Interestingly, they did not identify an interaction between adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet and the participants' genetic risk for dementia, suggesting that eating a healthy diet could reduce the risk of developing dementia even among those who are genetically predisposed to the condition.

The Mediterranean Diet is a dietary pattern that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and healthy fats, such as those in nuts, avocados, and olives. Evidence suggests that the healthy fats in salmon and their roe (eggs) protect the brain against cognitive decline. Learn more about the health benefits of salmon roe in our overview article.

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