Mediterranean diet may lower dementia risk by a quarter, study suggests

The study found apparent benefits in ‘a Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats’. Photograph: SolStock/Getty Images/iStockphoto

A Mediterranean diet of nuts, seafood, whole grains and vegetables could lower the risk of dementia by almost a quarter, according to promising early research that could pave the way for new preventive treatments.

The data suggests eating lots of plant-based foods may have a “protective effect” against dementia, regardless of a person’s genetic risk, which the researchers said could form the basis for future public health strategies if further research confirms their findings.