Is consuming olive oil associated with reducing dementia-related death risk? Answer: Yes

We said in Beating the Dementia Monster that olive oil is an important component of the MIND diet -- and, for that matter, the Mediterranean and DASH diets.  Since the MIND diet avoids stick margarine and butter, we use olive oil in their place.  I put olive oil on whole grain bread and enjoy it just as much as butter.  (Your mileage may vary...)  But how good is the evidence that olive oil is really better for you than those other fats?  Well, there's some news.

It turns out that one of the most widely read articles of 2024 in the JAMA Network publication (formerly Journal of the American Medical Association) addressed this.  The article reported on a study of 92,383 adults observed over 28 years that found those who consumed at least 7 grams per day (g/d) of olive oil had a 28% lower risk of dementia-related death compared with never or rarely consuming olive oil.  That's pretty substantial!  This was irrespective of diet quality or genetic predisposition.  Authors of the study concluded, "In US adults, higher olive oil intake was associated with a lower risk of dementia-related mortality, irrespective of diet quality. Beyond heart health, the findings extend the current dietary recommendations of choosing olive oil and other vegetable oils for cognitive-related health."

Some who commented on the research noted that it was a longitudinal study, which is considered a little less reliable than a randomized controlled study.  A longitudinal study looks at a population and draws conclusions about correlations.  But "correlation is not causation," as they like to say.  Randomized controlled studies do a better job of accounting for "confounding variables."  In a randomized controlled study, you actually change something and measure the result.  We look forward to the results of the US POINTER study which is now in progress.  It will hopefully confirm the findings of the FINGER study we discussed in Beating the Dementia Monster.  Both studies address lifestyle factors with respect to the development of Alzheimer's disease, including diet.

I'm thinking that blueberries and olive oil may be the two key ingredients in the MIND diet.  Of course, diet is a key tool in the Dementia Toolkit.