Mediterranean diet linked to lower levels of cognitive decline

People who enjoy a Mediterranean-style diet are less likely to being diagnosed with cognitive impairment in later life, a new US study has found.

Published in the journal Neurology, the study from scientists at the University of Alabama looked at 17,478 people in their 60s over a period of four years.

Questionnaires were used to record the participants' eating habits and those who consumed high amounts of vegetables and olive oil were found to have lower rates of cognitive decline.

However, Dr Simon Ridley, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, however, isn't getting carried away with the study's findings and pointed out that a number of other factors may have contributed to the results.

He said: "The people in this study did not live in the Mediterranean, and we can’t be certain from this study how close their eating habits were to a true Mediterranean diet."

He added that longer-term trials are needed to make a real connection between diet and dementia.

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