“Our study shows that genetics is not fate, and lifestyle choices like following a Mediterranean diet can still make a big difference,” explains the main author Yuxi Liu, PhD, researcher in the Medicine Department of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
How genes can increase the risk of dementia
Mediterranean regimes have reduced the risk of dementia by 35% in the most risk group
To see how the diet affected the risk of Alzheimer, the researchers recruited around 4,200 women who were 57 years old on average when they joined and about 1,500 men who were 63 years old on average. Scientists have kept an eye on participants up to 34 years old.
Participants fulfilled questionnaires on their diet and gave blood samples at the start of the study, which helped researchers determine the effect of the diet on dementia (small molecules linked to metabolism).
A subset of approximately 1,000 women has undergone regular cognitive telephone tests.
A total of 485 women and 121 men developed dementia during the study.
Study results, published in the journal Nature medicine, have shown that people with two copies of the APOE4 gene which followed a Mediterranean diet had a risk of 35% dementia compared to those who have the same genetic profile which has not followed the Mediterranean regime.
Dr. Liu and his team noted that a greater membership in the Mediterranean regime was associated with an additional reduction in the risk of dementia.
Blood tests shed light on the bond of food dementia
Since the researchers have taken blood samples from the participants at the start of the study, the results suggest that the markers measured early in life can provide significant clues to the risk of dementia of many years before the symptoms occur, according to Liu.
In a test that measures if some blood metabolites can play a “causal” role in cognitive health, the researcher has found evidence that carotenoids – natural metabolites of foods such as green vegetables and fruits, which are abundant in the Mediterranean diet – can have a protective role against Alzheimer.
“This observation suggests that metabolites derived from the diet could be part of the biological route connecting nutrition to long -term brain health,” explains Liu.
Some experts see these results as a breakthrough
Richard Isaacson, MD, specialist in Alzheimer’s prevention and research director at the Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases in Boca Raton, Florida, considers these results of the study as a “breakthrough”.
“Some people with two copies of APOE4 seemed to be convicted,” said Dr. Isaacson, who was not involved in research. “While the Mediterranean diet is protective against dementia for anyone, the big shock here is that it is protective for those who have [two copies of] APOE4. Thus, this study can really move the needle and encourage individuals at high risk to change what they eat. »»
Isaacson highlights several strengths of the analysis, including the long period of follow -up and the large number of participants.
He also distinguished the use of blood tests as a study force. “There were in fact organic markers in the blood samples which could confirm whether the nutrients had a positive effect or not,” he said.
With regard to the limitations of the study, self -deprecated eating habits are not always accurate and the study population consisted mainly of health professionals of European descent, the results may therefore not be generalized to all populations.
Should you be tested for APOE4?
“Routine tests are not currently recommended for the general population,” says Liu. “Above all, APOE4 is a risk factor, but not a diagnosis. Many carriers never develop dementia, and many non-porters still do so. If someone is concerned about their risk, especially those who have family history of dementia, a good first step is to speak to their doctor. ”
Take measures to healthier eating habits
A healthy diet is important for cognitive health for everyone, according to Liu, but it can be particularly important for people at higher genetic risks.
She says that a Mediterranean diet that will have the most positive impact for health requires:
- Eat mainly plants based on plants such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains, as well as healthy fish and fats like olive oil.
- Limit red and transformed meats.
- Keep alcohol to the minimum.
- Add more green leafy vegetables to meals.
- Exchange butter for olive oil.
- Choose fish rather than red meat.
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