Can eating a Mediterranean diet really slash your dementia risk?

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. However, they added that a Mediterranean diet with lots of plant-based foods could still be “an important intervention” as part of future public health strategies to reduce dementia risk. Our study suggests that eating a more Mediterranean-like diet could be one strategy to help individuals lower their risk of dementia Dr Oliver Shannon Dr Oliver Shannon, lecturer in Human Nutrition & Ageing at Newcastle University, who is lead author on the study, said: “Dementia impacts the lives of millions of individuals throughout the world, and there are currently limited options for treating this condition. The researchers also said the Mediterranean diet had a “protective effect” against dementia, regardless of a person’s genetic risk, but added further studies are needed to explore this finding. “The protective effect of this diet against dementia was evident regardless of a person’s genetic risk, and so this is likely to be a beneficial lifestyle choice for people looking to make healthy dietary choices and reduce their risk of dementia.” More research is needed to build on its intriguing findings, and uncover whether these reported benefits also translate to minority communities, where historically dementia has often been misunderstood and highly stigmatised Dr Susan Mitchell Commenting on the study, Dr Susan Mitchell, head of Policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “There is a wealth of evidence that eating a healthy, balanced diet can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.