Reducing Dementia Risk: The Power of an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

A recent Swedish study suggests that following a healthy diet that reduces inflammation in the body could lower the chances of developing dementia, especially for individuals with heart-related health issues. These diets are often called anti-inflammatory diets. They focus on foods like fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains, and beans, which are also part of well-known heart-healthy eating plans like the Mediterranean diet.

The study, which tracked over 84,000 older adults for more than 12 years, found that those who followed an anti-inflammatory diet had a 21% lower chance of developing dementia. This was compared to people who ate a diet high in inflammation-causing foods such as eggs, dairy, red meats, and processed items.

The benefits were even more pronounced for older adults who already had health conditions like heart disease or diabetes. For these individuals, the risk of dementia dropped by 31% when they followed an anti-inflammatory eating plan, according to a team of researchers led by Abigail Dove from the Karolinska Institute’s Aging Research Center in Stockholm.

A closer look at the brain scans of more than 9,000 of the participants revealed noticeable improvements in brain health. Dr. Liron Sinvani, who is the director of geriatric hospital services at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., observed that these healthier diets were linked to “positive changes within the brain.”

While Sinvani was not a part of the study, she explained that people who followed an anti-inflammatory diet had larger volumes of gray matter in their brains and fewer white matter hyperintensities. Gray matter is essential for processing information, and having more of it is considered a good sign for brain health. On the other hand, white matter hyperintensities are associated with a higher risk of dementia, so seeing less of it in individuals who ate anti-inflammatory foods was a promising indicator.

In addition to the reduced risk of dementia, there were signs of healthier brain changes observable in MRI scans. People who ate pro-inflammatory diets, which are rich in processed foods and animal-based products, had more brain changes that could lead to dementia, as noted in the study.

The researchers behind this study, which was published on August 12 in the journal *JAMA Network Open*, believe that one reason an anti-inflammatory diet could lower the chances of developing dementia is because it helps reduce overall inflammation in the body. This is especially important for people who have heart or metabolic conditions like diabetes.

Sinvani emphasized the importance of a healthy diet for maintaining brain health, noting that this study reinforces the benefits of eating right. However, for those who find it difficult to fit enough fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into their diets, she warned against relying on supplements.

Even though many antioxidant supplements are on the market, Sinvani pointed out that past studies haven’t shown much evidence that they are effective replacements for a healthy diet. In fact, she suggested that the best way to benefit from anti-inflammatory foods is to get them directly from what you eat, not from pills.

In summary, this research suggests that eating a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods may help lower the risk of dementia, especially for those with pre-existing health conditions like heart disease. While supplements might seem like an easy fix, the best results come from a well-rounded, healthy diet.