A new study by researchers at Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts, and the Broad Institute has found that a Mediterranean diet can significantly mitigate the effects of genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. The results of this study, published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine, showed that even people with the highest risk of dementia benefited significantly from such a diet. Their risk of cognitive decline was reduced more significantly than those with a low genetic risk.
The key role is played by the APOE gene, variants of which can increase the likelihood of Alzheimer's disease by 3-12 times. Scientists analyzed data from almost 5.7 thousand participants – women from the Nurses' Health Study and men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Their health was observed for three decades, assessing nutrition, cognitive function and blood metabolites.
The results showed that following a Mediterranean diet was associated with a lower risk of dementia and slower memory decline. The greatest benefit was seen in those who carried two copies of the APOE4 variant, the group at highest risk. The authors believe that it is through its effects on key metabolic pathways that the diet is able to offset the effects of heredity.
The authors emphasize that these findings open up prospects for personalized recommendations, but so far the results have been obtained mainly in participants of European origin. Additional studies are needed in more diverse populations to talk about widespread application.
