In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleHow Was This Study Conducted?How Does This Apply to Real Life?
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In This Article
How Was This Study Conducted?
How Does This Apply to Real Life?
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Dementia is an umbrella term for diseases of the brain that affect memory, thought processes, personality and the ability to communicate. Alzheimer’s disease is one type of dementia.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 5.8 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This includes 5.6 million aged 65 and older and about 200,000 under the age of 65 with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Dementia doesn’t just affect quality of life, though. It can also shorten your life. The Alzheimer’s Association states that Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the fifth leading cause of death for Americans ages 65 and older.
While we tend to think of dementia as a disease that happens later in life—because that’s usually when it shows up—there are steps you can take now to reduce your risk of developing dementia down the road. According to the CDC, this includes quitting smoking,managing blood pressure, being physically active and preventing diabetes and heart disease.
And now a large study published on May 6, 2024, suggests that regularly including olive oil in your diet can reduce your risk of dementia as well.
The #1 Activity to Limit to Reduce Your Risk of Dementia, According to Dietitians
Participants filled out food frequency questionnaires every four years for an average of 28 years. From this data, diet quality was measured based on the Mediterranean Diet score and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index—both scales that rate diet quality.
In addition to overall diet quality, participants were categorized according to their olive oil intake frequency: never or less than once per month (reference group), greater than 0 to less than or equal to 4.5 grams/day, greater than 4.5 grams/day to less than or equal to 7 grams/day, and greater than 7 grams/day. Since most people in the U.S. use tablespoons, researchers estimated 13.5 grams of olive oil to equal about 1 tablespoon.
Researchers also took genetic information from 27,296 participants who had provided blood or saliva samples. They wanted to determine if olive oil exhibited any benefits for those with a certain gene that increases the risk of dementia. Study authors state that individuals with this gene tend to have a 5.5 to 9.4 times greater risk of dying from dementia compared to those without this gene.
After several statistical analyses were run on the data, the results suggest that participants who consumed more than 7 grams (about ½ tablespoon) of olive oil per day had a 28% lower risk of dying from dementia. This association remained consistent despite diet quality and after adjusting for the gene that raises the risk of dementia.
The study authors note thatolive oilhad previously been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective benefits when part of a Mediterranean diet—and that this may be due to its high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant properties.
The difference between this study and previous studies is that these researchers looked for associations between olive oil intake and the risk of dying from dementia regardless of diet quality. Most of the other studies on olive oil and brain health were also done in Mediterranean countries, so these researchers wanted to look at U.S. populations where olive oil consumption tends to be lower.
We also know thatcertain foods tend to negatively affect brain healthand may increase the risk of dementia, including red meat, ultra-processed foods and foods high in added sugar and alcohol, so limiting these may help. Conversely,foods high in healthy fatsand antioxidants support brain health, including seafood, nuts and seeds, so they make a great addition to a brain-healthy eating pattern.
Lifestyle habits, including getting plenty of quality sleep, managing chronic stress, engaging in regular physical activity and socializing in person—as opposed to through a screen—can also contribute to a healthy brain.
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SourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Minorities and women are at greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer’s Association.2021 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lifestyle behaviors can lower your risk of dementia.Tessier A, Cortese M, Yuan C, et al.Consumption of olive oil and diet quality and risk of dementia-related death.JAMA Network Open.2024. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.10021
Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Minorities and women are at greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer’s Association.2021 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lifestyle behaviors can lower your risk of dementia.Tessier A, Cortese M, Yuan C, et al.Consumption of olive oil and diet quality and risk of dementia-related death.JAMA Network Open.2024. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.10021
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Minorities and women are at greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer’s Association.2021 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lifestyle behaviors can lower your risk of dementia.Tessier A, Cortese M, Yuan C, et al.Consumption of olive oil and diet quality and risk of dementia-related death.JAMA Network Open.2024. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.10021
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Minorities and women are at greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s Association.2021 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Lifestyle behaviors can lower your risk of dementia.
Tessier A, Cortese M, Yuan C, et al.Consumption of olive oil and diet quality and risk of dementia-related death.JAMA Network Open.2024. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.10021
