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An estimated 5.8 million people in the U.S. have dementia, and those numbers are only expected to rise. With that, many people want to do what they can to lower the risk that they’ll develop the debilitating disease over time.
While dementia is a complicated condition that likely has several causes, a new study suggests a simple lifestyle change can help lower your risk of dying from dementia: incorporating olive oil into your diet.
What the study says
The study, which was conducted by researchers at Harvard University and presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s Nutrition 2023 conference, found that those who used olive oil in place of condiments such as margarine and mayonnaise had a lowered risk of dying from dementia.
What are the key findings?
The study analyzed dietary and health data from 60,582 women and 31,801 men who didn’t have cardiovascular disease and cancer at the start of the study, along with death records. Over a 28-year follow-up, 4,749 people died of dementia.
The researchers found that having more than 7 grams a day of olive oil (or about half a tablespoon) was linked with a 25% lowered risk of dying of dementia compared to people who never or rarely had olive oil. The scientists also discovered that swapping 1 teaspoon of margarine and mayo with the equivalent amount of olive oil a day was linked with an up to 14% lowered risk of dying of dementia.
“In U.S. adults, higher olive oil intake was associated with a moderately lower risk of fatal dementia, irrespective of diet quality,” the researchers concluded. “Increasing olive oil intake in place of margarine and mayonnaise represents a potential strategy to reduce dementia mortality risk.”
