Mediterranean diet reduces dementia risk.

Mediterranean diet may offset genetic risk of Alzheimer's, new study suggests.

Why it matters

  • Mediterranean diet may reduce dementia risk, especially for high-genetic-risk individuals.

By the numbers

  • Study: 5,705 participants (4,215 women, 1,490 men) followed from 1989-2023.
  • APOE4 gene variant increases Alzheimer's risk by 3-4x (one copy) or 12x (two copies).

The big picture

  • Diet helps reduce cognitive decline, more so in high-risk individuals.

What they're saying

  • Exercise and diet are key. Small changes like using olive oil can help.

Caveats

  • Study limited to European ancestry; more research needed.
  • Genetics not commonly used in clinical risk models.

What’s next

  • Research on personalized dietary interventions.