Landmark new studies shows premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil reduces dementia mortality risk
A new study1 from the Harvard School of Public Health adds compelling evidence to the brain health benefits of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). It reveals that consuming just half a tablespoon of olive oil daily could reduce the risk of death from dementia by 28% .
And a study2 from the International Journal of Molecular Sciences reviews the efficacy of extra-virgin olive oil and its phenolic compounds in preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
These findings are also nicely summarized in this article in the Olive Oil Times.
Dementia
Dementia encompasses several diseases that impair memory, thinking and daily functioning. Along with cancer and ischaemic heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases are now the third largest cause of death in New Zealand. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. It is estimated more than 170,000 New Zealanders will be living with dementia by 20503. Dementia primarily affects individuals over the age of 65, and currently there is no cure .
The Harvard study
Published in the JAMA journal in May 2024, the study was led by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health. It utilized data from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow Up Study, involving over 92,000 U.S. adults. Participants’ food intake was assessed every four years, focusing on their olive oil consumption, which ranged from none to over 7g/day. Researchers also evaluated the presence of the APOE ε4 gene, known to increase dementia risk.
Key Findings
The study found that participants consuming the highest amounts of olive oil (over 7g/day) had a 28% lower risk of dying from dementia compared to those who consumed the least. This association remained significant regardless of overall diet quality and the presence of the APOE ε4 gene, suggesting that olive oil itself positively impacts dementia mortality.
Moreover, the researchers discovered that replacing 5g of fats like mayonnaise and margarine with olive oil resulted in an 8% reduction in dementia mortality risk.
Implications
These findings are significant because, while EVOO's benefits for cardiovascular health are well-established, evidence for its impact on brain health has been less conclusive. Previous smaller-scale studies, such as a 2022 study indicating that EVOO could enhance brain health and memory, support this new evidence, which for the first time links olive oil consumption to reduced dementia mortality .
Researchers attribute the positive effects to the monounsaturated fats and bioactive compounds in EVOO, which exhibit strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties .
The Harvard study reinforces the recommendation of health professionals to include extra virgin olive oil in a healthy diet. While the study found benefits with just half a tablespoon per day, most research suggests consuming 2-3 tablespoons daily of premium polyphenolic EVOO for optimal health benefits.
The International Journal of Molecular Sciences review
This comprehensive clinical review concludes the significance of EVOO and its phenolic compounds in the context of Alzheimer’s disease is pronounced, especially considering that AD is a condition that begins years before symptoms appear. EVOO and olive phenolics potentially mitigate critical pathological features of AD, such as Aβ and tau protein pathologies, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation, and enhance blood–brain barrier integrity.
Links
1. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2818362?utm_campaign=articlePDF&utm_medium=articlePDFlink&utm_source=articlePDF&utm_content=jamanetworkopen.2024.10021
2. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/3/1914
3. https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-health-professionals/data-and-statistics/mortality-web-tool/#:~:text=For the total population, the,deaths per 100,000 population respectively).
4. https://neurological.org.nz/conditions/brain-disorders-and-support/alzheimers-disease-and-dementia/
5. https://www.oliveoiltimes.com/health-news/why-extra-virgin-olive-oil-is-linked-with-lower-dementia-risk-better-brain-health/133073