Olive oil has a rich and deep taste, it is highly recommended as an addition to salads or other foods, and recent research shows that there is a good reason to start using it more in old age, since it has been found to help prevent death from dementia. There are many other great benefits to olive oil, such as its ability to treat arthritis and the latest research has shown that no matter what the quality of your diet - if you only consume 7 grams of olive oil daily, which is about half a tablespoon, you can reduce your risk of death from dementia by 28% .
Let's dive a little deeper into this research and its findings and understand what exactly was discovered and how, so that you can protect yourself and your body in a simple way and with a small upgrade that is easy to incorporate into your daily diet.
The relationship between olive oil and reducing the risk of death from dementia
"Preferring olive oil - which is a natural product - over processed fats such as mayonnaise or margarine, is a safer choice for those who fear the risk of fatal dementia," says study director Dr. Ann-Julie Tessier, a certified dietitian and nutrition researcher at the school of Harvard University Medicine. She adds and says that although more research is needed on the subject, other previous studies have shown that there is indeed a connection between the Mediterranean diet and the improvement of cognitive function and the reduction of the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases, but until the current study, no direct connection between the consumption of olive oil and the reduction of mortality from dementia has been proven.
In the current study, 92,000 participants who did not suffer from cardiovascular disease or cancer at the start of the study were examined, and the researchers examined the relationship between the quality of their diet and olive oil consumption and the risk of death in the context of dementia. Over the 28 years of the study, there were 4,751 dementia-related deaths, with people who had 2 significant risk factors for Alzheimer's having a 5-9 times higher risk of dying from the disease, but olive oil consumption appeared to help reduce this risk.
The olive oil is also beneficial regardless of the quality of the diet itself
"In general, people who used olive oil in cooking or seasoning maintained a higher quality diet than others, but surprisingly, we found that the relationship between olive oil and reducing the risk of mortality from dementia is stronger, regardless of the quality of the diet itself," says Tessier. For example, replacing 5 grams of margarine or mayonnaise daily with olive oil showed a decrease of up to 14% in the risk of death in the context of dementia, but it should be noted that replacing other oils - such as butter or vegetable oils - did not show such a significant effect.
"Some of the antioxidant compounds in the olive oil can cross the blood-brain barrier, and it is possible that this has a direct effect on the brain," she points out, adding, "It is very possible that the olive oil has an indirect effect on the brain also due to its benefits for the cardiovascular system." .
The authors of the study note a number of limitations related to it, which include the possibility that a high consumption of olive oil could indicate that the subjects already had healthier dietary habits to begin with and that they came from a higher socioeconomic status, but nevertheless, the results were consistent even after taking such factors into account.
Is there really a causal relationship
In response to the findings, Dr. Rebecca M. Adelmayer, director of scientific engagement for the Alzheimer's Association and an expert who was not involved in the study, warns that the study was designed in such a way as to show a certain relationship between olive oil consumption and reducing the risk of death from dementia, and not that olive oil is what directly affects this.
Moreover, Dr. Adelmeyer notes that the people who consumed the olive oil in the highest amounts in the study tended to generally maintain a better quality diet, were more physically active and also smoked less. "All these factors may affect cognitive decline and dementia, separately or in addition to olive oil consumption."
What should you take away from this study
It is impossible to argue with the facts that are already known, namely that olive oil is healthier for the body than other processed oils, and that the Mediterranean diet is indeed one of the most recommended approaches for those who wish to reduce the damage and effects of dementia and old age. Whether the effect is direct or not, your body will only thank you if you use olive oil in salads instead of mayonnaise or in frying instead of harmful oils. All you need is one half tablespoon of olive oil a day instead of mayonnaise or margarine, so if you already used to use such products, try to replace them with the same amount of olive oil. In the end, it will only be for your benefit.
