Mediterranean Diet can offset the genetic risk for dementia
New research suggests that following a Mediterranean-style diet may help offset a person’s genetic risk for developing Alzheimer’s diseaseAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a form of dementia. AD and other types of dementia are most common in ....
The current study by Harvard investigators found that individuals at the highest genetic risk for Alzheimer’s diseaseAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a form of dementia. AD and other types of dementia are most common in ... following a Mediterranean diet — rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, low in red and processed meats, and including moderate consumption of wine/alcoholic beverages — showed slower cognitive decline as well as a greater reduction in dementia risk than those at lower genetic risk.
The Mediterranean diet is the only dietary pattern that has been causally linked to cognitive benefits in a randomized trial and the researchers aimed to investigate whether such a benefit might be different in individuals with varying genetic backgrounds. They also examined the role of blood metabolites, which reflect how the body processes food and carries out normal functions.
Over the last few decades, scientists have found out more about the genetic and metabolic basis of Alzheimer’s diseaseAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a form of dementia. AD and other types of dementia are most common in ... and related dementias. These are among the most common causes of cognitive decline in older adults. Alzheimer’s diseaseAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a form of dementia. AD and other types of dementia are most common in ... is known to have a strong genetic component, with heritability estimated at up to 80%.
One gene in particular, apolipoprotein E, or APOE, has emerged as the strongest genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer’s diseaseAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a form of dementia. AD and other types of dementia are most common in .... Individuals who carry one copy of the APOE4 variant have a three- to fourfold higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Individuals with two copies of the APOE4 variant have a 12-fold higher risk of Alzheimer’s than those without.
To explore how the Mediterranean diet may reduce dementia risk and influence blood metabolites linked to cognitive health, the researchers analyzed data from 4,215 women in the Nurses’ Health Study, following the participants from 1989 to 2023 (average age 57 at baseline). To validate their findings, the researchers analyzed similar data from 1,490 men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, followed from 1993 to 2023. They evaluated long-term dietary patterns using food frequency questionnaires and examined participants’ blood samples for a broad range of metabolites. Genetic data were used to assess each participant’s inherited risk for Alzheimer’s diseaseAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a form of dementia. AD and other types of dementia are most common in .... Participants were then followed over time for new cases of dementia to develop. A subset of 1,037 women underwent regular telephone-based cognitive testing.
The results showed that those individuals following a Mediterranean-style diet (which included moderate wine consumption) had a lower risk of developing dementia and showed slower cognitive decline. The protective effect of the diet was strongest in the high-risk group with two copies of the APOE4 gene variant, suggesting that diet may help offset genetic risk.
One study limitation was that the participants were well-educated individuals of European ancestry. More research is needed in diverse populations. In addition, even though this study reveals important associations, genetics and metabolomics are not yet part of most clinical risk prediction models for Alzheimer’s diseaseAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a form of dementia. AD and other types of dementia are most common in .... Individuals often don’t know their APOE genetic make-up. More work is needed to translate these findings into routine medical practice.
The authors concluded that dietary strategies such as the Med Diet could help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and prevent dementia by influencing key metabolic pathways.
