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What Do We Know About

Diet and Prevention of
Alzheimer’s Disease?
Can eating a specific food or following a particular diet help
prevent or delay dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease?
Many studies suggest that what we eat affects the aging
brain’s ability to think and remember. These findings have
led to research on general eating patterns and whether a
person’s diet might make a difference.

Healthy eating patterns have been associated with cognitive

benefits in studies, but more research is needed — and is
underway — to determine if what we eat can prevent or
delay Alzheimer’s or age-related cognitive decline.

How could what we eat affect our brains? It’s possible that
eating a certain diet affects biological mechanisms, such as
oxidative stress and inflammation, that underlie Alzheimer’s.
Eating a certain diet might increase specific nutrients that
may protect the brain through anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant properties. It may inhibit beta-amyloid deposits,
which are found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s, or
improve cellular metabolism in ways that protect against the
disease.

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 Or perhaps a person’s diet works indirectly by affecting
other Alzheimer’s risk factors, such as diabetes, obesity,
and heart disease. For example, the typical Western diet
increases cardiovascular disease risk, possibly contributing
to faster brain aging. A growing area of research focuses on
the relationship between gut microbes — tiny organisms in
the digestive system — and aging-related processes that
lead to Alzheimer’s. The important role of physical activity
and exercise, and how this interacts with diet,
cardiovascular health, and brain health must also be
considered.

Understanding the Mediterranean and

MIND diets
Before starting any dietary change, it’s important to talk with
your health care provider. They can provide personalized
advice that accounts for your health history and medical
conditions.

With
that in
mind,
there
are two
diets
that
research
has
shown
may
hold potential benefits for cognitive health, but the evidence
is mixed.

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables,

whole grains, legumes, fish and other seafood,
unsaturated fats such as olive oils, and low amounts of
red meat, eggs, and sweets.
The MIND (Mediterranean–DASH Intervention for
Neurodegenerative Delay) diet is a hybrid of the

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 Mediterranean and the DASH (Dietary Approaches to
Stop Hypertension) diet. Several studies have shown
that treating and reducing high blood pressure may help
reduce the risk of dementia. Similar to the
Mediterranean diet, the MIND diet features vegetables,
especially green leafy vegetables; berries over other
fruit; whole grains; beans; nuts; one or more weekly
servings of fish; and olive oil. It also limits servings of
red meat, sweets, cheese, butter/margarine, and
fast/fried food.

Some, but not all observational studies have shown that the
Mediterranean and MIND diets are associated with a lower
risk for dementia compared to a Western-style diet, which
typically contains more red meat, saturated fats, and sugar.

However, a recent clinical trial assigned 600 older adults

with a family history of dementia to either a MIND-diet group
or a control-diet group. Results showed that participants
who followed the MIND diet had only small improvements in
cognition that were similar to those who followed a control
diet of mild caloric restriction.

Previous research on these diets points to their potential to

slow cognitive decline, lower risk for dementia, and reduce
related damage to the brain. Here’s a look at the evidence:

To find out more on the diet and dementia connection,

scientists continue to conduct clinical trials to shed more
light on any cause and effect. (View a list of trials currently
recruiting participants at the end of this article.)

Observational studies of more than 900 dementia-free

older adults found that closely following the MIND diet
was associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and a
slower rate of cognitive decline.
In March 2023, scientists completed a study of the
brains of about 600 older adults who died at an
average age of 91. Brain autopsies found that
people who had reported sticking to a Mediterranean

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 or MIND diet showed less evidence of Alzheimer’s
pathologies, including tau tangles and amyloid
plaques.
In one observational study of 116 cognitively normal
adults, those who followed a Mediterranean diet had
thicker cortical brain regions than those who did not.
These brain regions shrink in people with
Alzheimer’s, so having thicker regions could mean
there’s a cognitive benefit.
A follow-up observational study showed lower
glucose metabolism and higher levels of beta-
amyloid protein — both seen in Alzheimer’s — in
people who did not follow the Mediterranean diet
closely, compared to those who did.
An analysis of diet and other factors found that, after
an average of 4.5 years, people who adhered most
closely to the MIND diet had a 53% reduced rate of
Alzheimer’s compared to those who did not follow
the diet closely.
In a similar study, following the MIND diet was
associated with a substantial slowing of cognitive
decline during an average of almost five years.
The Age-Related Eye Disease Studies originally
looked at diet and eye disease. Further analysis by
the researchers showed that people who followed
the Mediterranean-style diet had a lower risk of
developing cognitive problems while maintaining a
higher level of cognitive function.

What do we know about individual

foods?
Many foods — blueberries, leafy greens, and curcumin
(found in the spice turmeric), to name a few — have been
studied for their potential cognitive benefit. These foods
have been thought to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, or
other properties that might help protect the brain. However,
so far, there is no evidence that eating or avoiding a specific
food can prevent Alzheimer’s or age-related cognitive

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 decline.

Still, scientists continue to look for clues. A recent study

showed that a molecule in green tea breaks apart tangles of
the protein tau, which builds up in the brain due to
Alzheimer’s. Based on this finding, the team identified other
potential Alzheimer’s drug candidates. Another study, based
on older adults’ reports of their eating habits, found that
eating a daily serving of leafy green vegetables such as
spinach or kale was associated with slower age-related
cognitive decline, perhaps due to the neuroprotective effects
of certain nutrients.

Research has also shown that a diet that includes regular

fish consumption is associated with higher cognitive function
and slower cognitive decline with age. Another recent study,
in mice, found that consuming too much salt increased
levels of the protein tau, found in the brains of people with
Alzheimer’s, and caused cognitive impairment.

What about vitamins and

supplements?
Observational study and clinical trial researchers have
contemplated whether some over-the-counter vitamins and
dietary supplements, including vitamins B and E and gingko
biloba, might help prevent Alzheimer’s or cognitive decline.
The speculation is that these dietary add-ons might attack
oxidative damage or inflammation, protect nerve cells, or
influence other biological processes involved in Alzheimer’s.

But despite early findings of possible benefits for brain

health, no vitamin or supplement has been proven to
prevent Alzheimer’s in people. Overall, evidence remains
weak because many studies were too small or too brief to
be conclusive.

For example, studies of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in

mice showed that this omega-3 fatty acid, found in salmon
and certain other fish, reduced beta-amyloid plaques, a

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 hallmark of Alzheimer’s. However, clinical trials in humans
have had mixed results. In a study of 485 older adults with
age-related cognitive decline, those who took a DHA
supplement daily for 24 weeks showed improved learning
and memory compared to those who took a placebo.
Another study of 4,000 older adults — conducted primarily
to study eye disease — concluded that taking omega-3
supplements, alone or with other supplements, did not slow
cognitive decline.

At this time, no vitamin or supplement is recommended for

preventing Alzheimer’s or cognitive decline. However, a
2023 study showed that multivitamins helped boost memory
test scores in older adults compared to participants who
took a placebo. Additionally, a 2022 study showed that
participants who took a daily multivitamin did better on a
wide range of cognitive tests, and had significant
improvements in memory and executive function (attention,
planning, and organization) compared to those who did not
take a daily multivitamin. Even so, these findings are still
preliminary and more research is needed.

Despite ample availability, a broad range of other vitamins

and supplements have not been tested for their effects on
thinking. Their safety and effectiveness are largely unknown,
and they may interact with other medications.

For more information, visit the National Center for

Complementary and Integrative Health’s page on dietary
supplements and cognitive function. The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration also has consumer information on diet
and Alzheimer’s disease.

The connection between

the digestive system and

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 the brain
There is growing evidence for
connections between the
brain and the gut microbiome
— the community of viruses,
bacteria, and other microbes
in the digestive system. NIA-
funded investigators are
analyzing how factors such
as aging, diet, and the
environment can change the
conduit of neurons, proteins,
and chemicals linking the
digestive system and the
brain, and how those
changes may impact
cognitive health. You can
learn more about the latest
research on how the gut
microbiome relates to brain
health in our recent feature
article, “Beyond the brain:

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 The gut microbiome and
Alzheimer’s disease.”

Researchers continue to seek answers

Investigators continue to expand explorations into potential
diet and cognitive health connections. There is growing
interest in the idea of Alzheimer’s as a metabolic disease
that affects the brain, and the role of Alzheimer’s biomarkers
— measurable indicators of biological processes in the body
— such as glucose metabolism. In addition to the
Mediterranean diet and its variations, investigators are
looking at other diets as well as individual foods and
nutrients.

For example, the ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-

carbohydrate diet that prompts the production of ketones,
chemicals that help brain cells work. A study in animal
models and human tissue models showed that a ketogenic
diet may help brain cells better use energy, improving their
overall function. A recent, small pilot study of 10 participants
who followed a keto diet for three months showed a
statistically significant improvement in cognitive test scores
among participants.

There is also ongoing scientific interest in the potential

health and lifespan benefits of intermittent fasting or caloric
restriction. More research is needed to better understand
how these eating patterns may affect insulin resistance, and
brain/cognitive health as we age.

These clinical trials are recruiting participants to test dietary

interventions:

Therapeutic Diets in Alzheimer’s Disease (TDAD) —

Tracking the impact of a ketogenic diet on cognition in
adults age 50 to 90.

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-and-dementia/what-do-we-know-about-diet-and-prevention-alzheimers-disease 2025-02-25, 2 45 PM
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 Enhanced Mediterranean Diet for Alzheimer’s Disease
Prevention — Cognitively normal adults age 65 and
older in Kansas City, Kansas, are randomly assigned to
either a Mediterranean diet or a low-fat diet to gauge the
impact on cognitive function, brain volume, and other
measures.
Multicultural Healthy Diet to Reduce Cognitive Decline
— This 18-month trial will investigate whether an anti-
inflammatory diet tailored to a multicultural population in
Bronx, New York, can improve cognitive functioning.
Brain Energy for Amyloid Transformation in Alzheimer’s
Disease — Older adults with mild cognitive impairment
in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, are randomly
assigned to follow either a modified Mediterranean
ketogenic (low-carbohydrate/high-fat) diet or an
American Heart Association high-carb/low-fat diet for 16
weeks, with follow-up to assess effects on cognition and
Alzheimer’s biomarkers.

To learn more or to find a trial near you, visit the

Alzheimers.gov Clinical Trials Finder.

You may also be interested in

Learning more about vitamins and supplements
Exploring healthy eating, nutrition, and diet
Understanding cognitive health for older adults

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 For more information about Alzheimer’s
prevention
NIA Alzheimer’s and related Dementias Education and
Referral (ADEAR) Center
800-438-4380
[email protected]
www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers
The NIA ADEAR Center offers information and free print
publications about Alzheimer’s and related dementias for
families, caregivers, and health professionals. ADEAR
Center staff answer telephone, email, and written requests
and make referrals to local and national resources.

Alzheimers.gov
www.alzheimers.gov
Explore the Alzheimers.gov website for information and
resources on Alzheimer’s and related dementias from
across the federal government.

Alzheimer's Association
800-272-3900
866-403-3073 (TTY)
[email protected]
www.alz.org

Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

866-232-8484
[email protected]
www.alzfdn.org

ClinicalTrials.gov
www.clinicaltrials.gov

This content is provided by the NIH National

Institute on Aging (NIA). NIA scientists and
other experts review this content to ensure
it is accurate and up to date.

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 Content reviewed: November 20, 2023

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https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-and-dementia/what-do-we-know-about-diet-and-prevention-alzheimers-disease 2025-02-25, 2 45 PM
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