Study suggests that Mediterranean diet can prevent heart disease and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease
A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that adopting a Mediterranean diet may prevent heart disease and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in older adults.
The Mediterranean diet is based on the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fish, and olive oil, with moderation in the consumption of red meat and sugar. The diet is known for its health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
In the study, over 7,000 people with an average age of 67 were divided into three groups. One group was instructed to follow the Mediterranean diet with daily consumption of extra-virgin olive oil, another group followed the same diet with daily consumption of nuts, and the third group followed a calorie-restricted diet.
After five years, the researchers found that the two groups that followed the Mediterranean diet had a significant reduction in the risk of heart disease. Additionally, the group that consumed nuts had a significant reduction in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
According to Dr. Miguel Ángel Martínez-González, lead author of the study and professor of medicine at the University of Navarra in Spain, “the results indicate that the Mediterranean diet is an effective strategy for preventing heart disease and reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in older adults.”
The Mediterranean diet is also rich in important nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, and contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that may have positive effects on health.
The results of the study are consistent with previous research that has shown the benefits of the Mediterranean diet for health. A study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology in 2014 concluded that the Mediterranean diet is more effective than a low-fat diet in preventing heart disease.
Another study published in the scientific journal PLOS One in 2017 also indicated that the Mediterranean diet may improve cognitive function in older adults.
While the Mediterranean diet is a promising strategy for the prevention of heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease, it is important to remember that the diet is not a cure for these conditions and that other factors, such as physical activity and genetics, also play a role in health.
References
- Estruch, R., et al. (2018). Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet Supplemented with Extra-Virgin Olive Oil or Nuts. The New England Journal of Medicine, 378(25), 2441-2452.
- Salas-Salvadó, J., et al. (2014). Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with the Mediterranean diet: results of the PREDIMED-Reus nutrition intervention randomized trial. Diabetes Care, 37(11), 2954-2961.
- Martínez-Lapiscina, E. H., et al. (2013). Mediterranean diet improves cognition: the PREDIMED-NAVARRA randomized trial. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 84(12), 1318-1325.
- Sofi, F., et al. (2014). Adherence to Mediterranean diet and health status: meta-analysis. BMJ, 349, g6674.
- Sacks, F. M., et al. (2017). Dietary fats and cardiovascular disease: a presidential advisory from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 136(3), e1-e23.
- Scarmeas, N., et al. (2006). Mediterranean diet and risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Annals of Neurology, 59(6), 912-921.
- Rosato, V., et al. (2016). Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. European Journal of Nutrition, 55(2), 477-492.
- Singh, B., et al. (2016). Mediterranean dietary patterns and risk of age-related cognitive decline: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 29(5), 257-268.