Study Links High-Quality Plant Diet to Lower Dementia Risk

A new study has found that adopting a high-quality plant-based diet, even in one's late 50s or 60s, is associated with a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The research, which examined nearly 93,000 diverse participants over more than a decade, underscores the importance of diet quality in protecting brain health as people age.

The study, published in the journal Neurology, analyzed data from 92,849 individuals with an average starting age of 59. Participants included white, African American, Japanese American, Latino and Native Hawaiian people. They were followed for an average of 11 years, during which 21,478 developed Alzheimer's or related dementia. At the outset, all completed detailed food questionnaires detailing their intake of plant foods, animal products like meat, dairy, eggs, fish and seafood, and other items.

Researchers categorized diets into three plant-based types: an overall plant-based approach prioritizing plants over animal products; a healthful version emphasizing whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, vegetable oils, tea and coffee; and an unhealthful version focusing on refined grains, fruit juices, potatoes...