Which factors influence risk?
A new review published in Frontiers in Nutrition suggests that dietary patterns play a significant role in modifying the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers emphasize that a personalized approach, considering genetics and biological mediators, is necessary to determine the most effective preventive diet.
Why it matters
Understanding modifiable risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases is vital for developing public health strategies to combat the rising global prevalence of dementia.
Some of these ways involve following healthy lifestyle guidelines , such as not smoking , getting enough sleep , being physically active , and adhering to a nutritious diet .
Previous research has linked specific dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean , DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), MIND (Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay), and healthy plant-based diets , to a lower risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
“Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and globally the population is rising with it,” Kuldeep Kumar , PhD, professor of statistics in the Centre for Data Analytics at Bond University in Australia, told Medical News Today .
“However, it is genetically associated and the risk factors are modifiable,“ said Kumar. “Diet is the most common modifiable risk factor and influences cognitive health in several biological ways.”
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