"Mediterranean Diet Reduces Alzheimer’s Risk, Even for Those with Genetic Predisposition"

Mediterranean Diet Lowers Dementia Risk by 23% in High-Risk Groups
Further Research Needed Before Clinical Application

Mediterranean diet that lowers the risk of dementia. Pexels

A study has found that individuals with genes that significantly increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease experience a substantial reduction in dementia risk when following a Mediterranean diet.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a research team from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard published a paper in the international journal Nature Medicine on August 26 (local time), revealing the results of a long-term follow-up study involving more than 4,200 women and 1,400 men.

According to the report, Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of cognitive decline in the elderly, with genetic factors accounting for up to 80% of cases. In particular, the APOE4 gene variant is considered the most powerful risk factor. Having one copy of the variant increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's by three to four times, while having two copies (homozygous) raises the risk by up to twelve times.

To determine the impact of the Mediterranean diet, the research team compared its effects based on whether participants carried the APOE4 gene variant, a representative genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. The team calculated Mediterranean diet scores by surveying participants' food intake frequency, collected blood samples to analyze metabolites, and assessed genetic risk for Alzheimer's using genetic data.

Image of fruits included in the Mediterranean diet. Pixabay

The results showed that among the high-risk group with two copies of the APOE4 gene variant, those with higher Mediterranean diet scores had a 23% lower risk of developing dementia. For those with one copy of the variant, the risk decreased by about 10%. No significant difference was observed in the group without the variant.

The Mediterranean diet, which is rich in monounsaturated fats from foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil, has consistently been shown to improve cognitive function. The researchers explained, "The Mediterranean diet can be an important strategy to offset Alzheimer's risk, especially for those who are genetically vulnerable."

However, the research team emphasized, "Genomic and metabolomic analyses still require further validation before they can be directly applied in clinical practice," adding that "more research is needed."