Mediterranean diet may offset much of the genetic risk of Alzheimer’s

Many observational studies have linked a Mediterranean diet to better cognitive health.

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Now, new research suggests that people at high genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease may benefit the most by following a Mediterranean diet.

Sporadic Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type, develops later in life and is not directly tied to family history. Rather, it’s due to an interaction between genetics, the environment and lifestyle factors.

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Mediterranean diet-derived metabolites may influence metabolic pathways in the brain and, in so doing, reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, especially in individuals carrying two copies of the APOE4 gene.

The researchers found, for example, cognitive benefits associated with betaine, a phytochemical plentiful in beets, spinach and whole grains, in people at high genetic risk for AD. Betaine is thought to protect the brain by removing toxic compounds, supporting blood flow and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

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