Olive oil linked to reduced risk of death from dementia

Summary: Olive oil may be a key ingredient in reducing the risk of life-threatening dementia, a new study suggests.

The study looked at the diets and deaths of more than 90,000 Americans, finding a 28% lower risk of death from dementia in those who consumed more than half a tablespoon of olive oil daily. This relationship existed regardless of the overall quality of the diet, hinting at the unique benefits of olive oil for brain health.

Although the research is observational, it strengthens the case for choosing olive oil over other fats like margarine or mayonnaise.

Highlights:

1. Consuming more than half a tablespoon of olive oil a day reduced the risk of dying from dementia by 28%.
2. The lower risk of dementia mortality with olive oil consumption was independent of overall diet quality, suggesting unique benefits of olive oil for brain health.
3. Swapping a teaspoon of margarine or mayonnaise for an equivalent amount of olive oil daily was associated with an 8-14% lower risk of dementia-related death.

Source: American Society of Nutrition

A new study suggests that incorporating olive oil into your diet may help reduce the risk of dying from dementia. As many countries face rising rates of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, the study offers hope that healthy lifestyle factors, such as diet, can help prevent or slow the progression of these devastating diseases.

“Our study reinforces dietary guidelines recommending vegetable oils such as olive oil and suggests that these recommendations not only promote heart health, but also potentially brain health,” said Anne-Julie Tessier, RD, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.

“Opting for olive oil, a natural product, instead of fats such as commercial margarine and mayonnaise is a safe choice and may reduce the risk of life-threatening dementia.”

Tessier will present the findings at NUTRITION 2023, the American Society for Nutrition’s flagship annual meeting taking place July 22-25 in Boston.

Dementia includes a range of conditions in which disturbances in thought or memory affect a person’s daily activities. Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive and fatal disease that affects approximately 5.7 million Americans, is the most common form of dementia.

The study is the first to investigate the relationship between diet and dementia-related deaths. The scientists analyzed dietary questionnaires and death records collected from more than 90,000 Americans over three decades, during which 4,749 study participants died of dementia.

The results indicated that people who consumed more than half a tablespoon of olive oil daily had a 28% lower risk of dying from dementia compared to those who never or rarely consumed olive oil.

Additionally, replacing just one teaspoon of margarine and mayonnaise with the equivalent amount of olive oil per day was associated with an 8-14% reduction in the risk of dying from dementia.

Research suggests that people who regularly use olive oil instead of processed or animal fats tend to have healthier diets overall. However, Tessier noted that the relationship between olive oil and dementia mortality risk in this study was independent of overall diet quality. This may suggest that olive oil has particularly beneficial properties for brain health.

“Certain antioxidant compounds in olive oil can cross the blood-brain barrier, potentially having a direct effect on the brain,” Tessier said. “It’s also possible that olive oil has an indirect effect on brain health by benefiting cardiovascular health.”

Previous studies have linked higher olive oil consumption to a lower risk of heart disease. Incorporating olive oil as part of a Mediterranean diet has also been shown to help protect against cognitive decline.

Tessier cautioned that the research is observational and does not prove olive oil is the cause of the reduced risk of life-threatening dementia. Further studies such as randomized controlled trials would be needed to confirm the effects and determine the optimal amount of olive oil to consume in order to reap these benefits.

Overall, however, the study aligns with dietary recommendations and reinforces evidence that using olive oil in place of margarine or mayonnaise can help support healthy eating.

About this nutrition and dementia research news

Author: Nancy Lamontagne
Source: American Society of Nutrition
Contact: Nancy Lamontagne – American Nutrition Society
Picture: Image is credited to Neuroscience News

Original research: The results will be presented at NUTRITION 2023