How diet in older age can influence the risk of dementia

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-06-26 01:00

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Eating a healthier diet in your older years can reduce the risk of developing dementia, in some cases even for those who are at a higher risk, according to international research. The team followed a cohort of 1865 Swedish over-60s for an average of 8.4 years, looking at how well they adhered to three healthy dietary patterns: a Mediterranean diet, the Alternative Healthy Eating Index - which prioritises fruit, veg, legumes and nuts -, and the reverse Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Index - which focuses on the anti-inflammatory quality of the overall diet. By the end of the study, 240 participants developed dementia. The researchers say a higher-quality diet overall was linked to a lower risk of dementia and a later time for dementia to start. Looking specifically at participants who showed signs in their brain of an increased risk of Alzheimer's, the researchers say greater adherence to the anti-inflammatory diet was still linked to a lower risk of dementia and a later onset of the condition.