A new study published in Neurology examined the eating habits of nearly 93,000 adults in the United States over a period of approximately 11 years.
The aim was to investigate whether plant-based diets are linked to the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Not all plant foods are healthy
Researchers divided participants’ diets into different categories. Some participants consumed large amounts of healthy plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and legumes.
Others consumed higher amounts of less healthy plant-based products, including sugar, refined grains, and juice. The study did not specifically focus on vegetarian or vegan diets.
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The researchers also accounted for factors such as age, physical activity, and illnesses like diabetes to improve the accuracy of the results.
Lower and higher risk
The findings showed that people with the healthiest plant-based diets had a lower risk of developing dementia. In contrast, those with the least healthy diets faced a higher risk.
In a smaller part of the study, researchers also examined participants who changed their diets over time. Those who moved away from unhealthy plant-based eating habits had a lower risk of dementia later in life.
However, the researchers emphasize that the study only shows an association and does not prove that diet can directly prevent the disease.
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Sources: SciTechDaily and Neurology.
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