Anti-inflammatory diet linked to 31% lower dementia risk
A 15-year study published in JAMA Network Open tracked older adults and found that those who consumed the most anti-inflammatory foods — including fruits, vegetables, beans, and tea or coffee — had up to a 31% lower risk of developing dementia compared with those who ate more pro-inflammatory diets rich in red and processed meats and ultraprocessed foods. The benefit held even for participants with existing cardiometabolic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or stroke.
Protection persists even with Alzheimer's biomarkers
Notably, the protective effect of anti-inflammatory diets was observed even among older adults whose blood tests showed elevated p-tau217, a biomarker for Alzheimer's disease. These individuals lived nearly one year longer without dementia compared to those with similar biomarker levels but poorer diet quality. The findings suggest dietary intervention may be beneficial even after early Alzheimer's-related changes have begun in the brain.
Mediterranean diet cuts stroke risk in women
A separate study in Neurology Open Access followed 105,614 women for 21 years and found that those who most closely adhered to a Mediterranean diet — high in vegetables, fruits, fish, legumes, whole grains, and olive oil — had an 18% lower risk of any stroke, including a 25% lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Both studies underscore the role of diet, not just medication, in preventing age-related neurological decline.