The decisive factor for this benefit is not only the presence of plant foods in the diet, but above all their quality.
A diet rich in natural products vegetal may be associated with a lower risk of developing disease Alzheimer and other forms of insanity, according to a study cited by .
Research suggests that the decisive factor is not just the presence of plant foods in the diet, but above all their quality: The benefits appear linked to eating patterns based on whole, little-processed foods, such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
The , published in the journal Neurology, analyzed data from 92,849 adults with an average age of 59 and tracked their eating habits and health outcomes for 11 years. Over this period, 21,478 participants developed Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.
Rather than focusing solely on vegetarian or vegan diets, researchers separated participants into three major patterns: a global plant-based diet, a plant-based diet considered healthy and another plant-based but richer in refined and processed products.
The results point to a statistical association, and not a direct cause and effect relationship. Still, they show relevant differences.
Participants who consumed more foods of plant origin had a risk of dementia 12% inferior compared to those who ate less.
When the analysis took food quality into account, those who followed a healthier plant-based diet had a 7% lower risk, while those who opted for less healthy versions had a 6% higher risk.
Lead author Song-Yi Park from the University of Hawaii stressed that the Diet quality is “crucial”.
The study also evaluated the evolution of eating habits in a subgroup of 45,065 people.
In this universe, participants whose diet became more dependent on unhealthy plant-based products over 10 years had a 25% higher risk of dementia.
Those who improved the quality of their diet saw this risk drop by 11%, which suggests that dietary changes at older ages can also make a difference.
The authors note, however, that the data is based on self-report questionnaires and that other lifestyle factors may also influence the results.
