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A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and The Robert Butler Columbia Aging Center has unveiled compelling evidence of the profound impact of diet on dementia risk and the aging process. The findings, published in the Annals of Neurology, highlight the association between a healthier diet, a reduced risk of dementia, and a decelerated pace of biological aging.
Lead author Daniel Belsky, PhD, associate professor of Epidemiology at Columbia School of Public Health and the Columbia Aging Center, explains, “Much attention to nutrition in dementia research focuses on the way specific nutrients affect the brain. We tested the hypothesis that a healthy diet protects against dementia by slowing down the body’s overall pace of biological aging.”
The study utilized data from the Offspring Cohort of the Framingham Heart Study, involving participants aged 60 years and older who were free of dementia. Over the years, participants underwent regular follow-up examinations, allowing researchers to track their health outcomes. Using an epigenetic clock called DunedinPACE, the researchers measured the pace of aging—a vital indicator of overall health and longevity.
Of the 1,644 participants included in the analyses, 140 developed dementia. The study found that adherence to the Mediterranean-Dash Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet (MIND) was associated with a slower pace of aging as measured by DunedinPACE, as well as a reduced risk of dementia and mortality. Notably, the slower pace of aging accounted for a significant portion of the association between diet and dementia risk, highlighting the crucial role of dietary habits in shaping long-term health outcomes.
“Our findings suggest that a slower pace of aging may mediate part of the relationship between a healthy diet and reduced dementia risk,” explains first author Aline Thomas, PhD, a Postdoc at the Columbia Department of Neurology and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain.
While the study provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between diet, aging, and dementia risk, the researchers emphasize the need for further investigation to fully understand the underlying mechanisms. Co-author Yian Gu, PhD, associate professor of Neurological Sciences at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, underscores the importance of continued research in diverse populations to validate the findings and inform targeted interventions for dementia prevention.
Supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging, the study represents a significant step forward in our understanding of the role of diet in healthy aging and dementia prevention. As the global population ages, the findings underscore the importance of dietary interventions in promoting cognitive health and longevity.
