A recent study published in the journal JAMA Network Open found that an anti-inflammatory diet may play an important role in reducing dementia risk — even among people already at higher biological risk for the condition. The study followed more than 1,800 adults age 60 and older in Sweden who did not have dementia when the study began.

What is an Anti-Inflammatory Diet?

According to Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University, there is no single eating plan officially called the anti-inflammatory diet. Rather, it’s a way of describing an overall pattern of eating that is associated with lower levels of chronic inflammation in the body. This diet includes more vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, and whole grains, and fewer sugar-sweetened beverages, ultraprocessed foods, and red meats.

The study found that people whose diets had lower inflammatory potential were less likely to develop dementia, including in individuals whose blood tests indicated they were at higher biological risk. Among participants with higher levels of an Alzheimer’s disease-related biomarker, greater adherence to an anti-inflammatory diet was associated with a 29% lower risk of dementia.

Practical Steps for a Healthy Brain

Dr. Wen recommends that people adopt healthy eating habits, including an anti-inflammatory diet, to reduce their risk of dementia. She also suggests regular physical activity, controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, avoiding smoking, limiting excessive alcohol use, and getting adequate sleep. Staying socially connected and remaining mentally engaged are also important for cognitive health.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.