A new study suggests that following a Mediterranean diet may help reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and slow the rate of cognitive decline at a population level.
A new study has drawn a link between following a Mediterranean diet and reduced cognitive impairment.
The research, which features in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia, suggests that, at a population level, following a Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and slow cognitive decline.
The research is particularly pertinent to health policies that may help reduce the risk of types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dementia is a general term referring to significant cognitive decline, often in later life. Different diseases can cause dementia, the most common type of which is Alzheimer’s disease.
While some level of cognitive decline is common as people age, significant cognitive decline, as occurs in people with dementia, is not a normal part of aging.
According to the National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer’s disease is a type of neurodegenerative dementia. It occurs when abnormal deposits of proteins build up in a person’s brain, causing neurons to lose connectivity with each other and die.
A person with mild Alzheimer’s may experience memory loss and changes in personality or behavior. As the disease develops, they may go on to experience difficulty moving and have more significant confusion — for example, being unable to recognize family members or close friends.
Severe Alzheimer’s may leave a person unable to communicate and entirely dependent on other people for their care.
There is currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s. As a consequence, interventions that can delay or slow down the onset of cognitive decline may be very valuable for reducing the general rate and severity of Alzheimer’s disease in a popu