A recent study suggests that, even without other diet changes, olive oil can reduce dementia risk by up to 75 per cent. Taking more than half a tablespoon per day is associated with a 28% reduced risk of dementia death, so interest in the cognitive benefits of olive oil has risen.
Key Takeaways:
- Olive oil contains polyphenols and healthy fats that may support cognitive health.
- The Mediterranean and MIND diets, rich in olive oil, are associated with lower dementia risks.
- Moderation is key; around two tablespoons of olive oil per day is recommended.
It also looks like olive oil could be a dietary staple – but maybe not – that’s protecting the brain – which would be good news. According to Harvard’s T H, J.C. If you regularly consume olive oil, even if everything else in your diet is unchanged, it can reduce dementia mortality.’ According to a study at the Chan School of Public Health. This discovery shows the ability of olive oil’s antioxidants, including polyphenols, to slow down the cellular aging process and to aid cognition.
The Mediterranean and MIND diets, in which olive oil plays a central role, promote not only this good fat but also a variety of vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins. The effect of such diets on neurodegenerative risk has already been positive. According to Dr Domenico Pratic, a neurologist, polyphenols in olive oil help defend synapses (the link between neurons) from oxidative damage so they can better communicate.
But olive oil, good as it is, is not magic. Don’t expect a healthy kick-out from including it in any meal, experts caution. The most beneficial effects are reported, the studies point out, when you are eating olive oil as part of a healthy lifestyle. And the calories content of olive oil also suggests moderation: up to two tablespoons daily is the recommended dosage for anyone looking to experience the benefits without eating too many calories.
Unusually, these results show even better results when mixed with other healthy foods. High-quality-diet subjects whose diets included olive oil had even greater reductions in dementia risk, an example of how lifestyle and diet together provide the best anti-mental-deterioration defense.
It’s easy to incorporate olive oil into your diet: as a salad dressing, a dip for grilled veggies, as butter on toast. If you’re trying to do the Mediterranean thing, olive oil isn’t just a sauce — it’s a valuable ingredient to develop good health over the long term, and it supports the brain.
