A recent study suggests that incorporating more olive oil into your diet may help lower the risk of dementia-related death.
The research, conducted by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and other universities, analyzed the health data of over 92,000 adults over a 28-year period. The participants, with an average age of 56, did not have heart disease or cancer at the start of the study.
The study found that people who consumed more than 7 grams of olive oil per day had a 28% lower risk of dementia-related death compared to those who rarely or never ate olive oil. This association remained true even when taking the quality of their diet into account.
Participants reported their olive oil consumption through questionnaires, which the researchers compared to dementia death rates.
The study’s authors suggested that replacing margarine and mayonnaise with olive oil may help reduce the risk of dementia and improve overall longevity without dementia. The findings extend existing dietary recommendations to include olive oil and other vegetable oils for better cognitive health and longevity.
Olive oil’s health benefits are attributed to its high antioxidant content. According to Lindsay Allan, a registered dietitian, oxidative stress, a primary cause of disease, can damage cells. Antioxidant-rich foods like olive oil help neutralize these damaging free radicals. Extra virgin olive oil is particularly rich in phenolic compounds, which are potent antioxidants that protect neurons from oxidative stress.
Tanya Freirich, another registered dietitian, highlighted that olive oil is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are linked to a reduced risk of dementia and cognitive decline.
However, experts from the Alzheimer’s Association noted limitations in the study. Rebecca M. Edelmayer, PhD, pointed out that this was not an intervention study, meaning it only shows a connection between olive oil consumption and dementia-related death, not a cause-and-effect relationship. She also mentioned that death records may not accurately reflect dementia mortality, as the condition is often underreported.
The study focused mostly on non-Hispanic White populations, and Edelmayer suggested that more research is needed across diverse populations.
While experts agree that olive oil may have health benefits, they emphasize that dementia risk is influenced by various factors. In addition to olive oil, maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise, and other healthy habits, like avoiding smoking and managing health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, can help protect against dementia. Regular medical checkups are also important for managing other risk factors.
Read more:
- Could Olive Leaf Extract Be The New Superfood? Here’s What The Latest Research Shows
- Is Dementia a Psychological Condition?
- A Comprehensive Guide to Dementia-Related Psychosis
