Findings suggest that olive oil use could potentially reduce mortality due to dementia.
Over an extensive period of 28 years, a study with more than 92,000 adults discovered that consuming at least 7 grams (half a tablespoon) of olive oil every day reduced the risk of dementia-related death by 28%, compared to those who never or scarcely ate olive oil. This research was published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
This study marked the first investigation into the link between olive oil, a staple in the Mediterranean diet, and the risk of death caused by dementia.
Study co-author Anne-Julie Tessier, a research associate in nutrition at Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, mentioned that the research reinforces dietary guidelines that promote vegetable oils like olive oil, suggesting that they not only enhance heart health but potentially brain health as well. She stated, "By choosing olive oil over margarine and commercial mayonnaise, you're making a safe decision that could potentially lower the risk of fatal dementia."
The research began with participants having an average age of 56. The pool of participants consisted of almost 60,600 women from the Nurses’ Health Study (1990-2018) and nearly 32,000 men from the Health Professionals’ Follow-Up Study (the same period). The former study focused on discovering the risk factors for major chronic diseases in North America, while the latter study concentrated on the same topic but for men.
The authors of the latest study assessed participants' diets every four years with a questionnaire and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index, an assessment assigning scores to foods and nutrients that predict chronic disease. A higher score indicates better health.
Exchanging 5 grams (1.2 teaspoons) of margarine or mayonnaise with olive oil daily brought an 8% to 14% reduced risk of death due to dementia. Consequential substitutions with other vegetable oils or butter were insignificant in the study's results.
Participants carrying the APOE e4 gene (the primary known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease) experienced a five to nine times higher probability of dying from dementia, yet the findings regarding olive oil remained unchanged.
Duane Mellor, a non-involved registered dietitian, remarked on this study in July that it didn't provethat olive oil was the direct cause, but simply exhibited an association.
Duane Mellor, Aston Medical School lead for nutrition and evidence-based medicine at Aston University in the United Kingdom, said in a news release, "More research is required to establish a causal relationship."
The authors of the study attributed the benefits of olive oil for brain health to antioxidant compounds that can cross the blood-brain barrier, directly impacting the brain. Moreover, the olive oil's potential indirect effect on the brain came into play by bettering cardiovascular health.
David Curtis, an honorary professor of genetics, evolution and environment at University College London, noted in a separate news release that the overall diet quality did not significantly influence the findings. However, he speculated, "It could be that those who consume olive oil generally have healthier lifestyles overall."
Furthermore, the Mediterranean diet's scoring had only nine points and was calculated based on the diet's average intake in the population. Hence, Mellor proposed the use of a wider assessment of diet that considers more than nine distinct components.
Mellor underlined the significance of vascular dementia, accounting for about half of dementia cases.
"Anything that improves cardiovascular health, such as not smoking, would be expected to reduce dementia risk," he explained. "It's been shown that olive oil consumption contributes to better cardiovascular health. Therefore, one would anticipate that it would also lead to a lower dementia risk."
Olive oil has been proven to improve heart, brain, and bone health. Apart from cooking with olive oil, you can also use it to make salad dressings, vinaigrettes, mayonnaise, pesto, or bread dips. David Mellor emphasized that not only the food we eat, but also how we eat, can significantly influence our mental health as we age. He explained, "Remaining sociable during mealtimes and eating with others can benefit our mental health in the short term and cognitive function in our old age."
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The findings suggest that incorporating olive oil into your diet, as part of a wellness strategy, could potentially lower the risk of fatal dementia due to its benefits on heart health and brain function. Furthermore, by opting for olive oil over processed alternatives like margarine and commercial mayonnaise, you're making a wellness-focused choice that aligns with dietary guidelines promoting vegetable oils for heart and potentially brain health.
Source: edition.cnn.com
