Higher olive oil intake was associated with a lower risk of dementia-related mortality, a prospective study of 90,000 healthcare professionals showed.
Eating at least 7 g of olive oil daily -- about a half tablespoon -- was tied to an adjusted 28% lower risk of dementia-related death (pooled hazard ratio
The relationship remained significant after adjusting for diet quality, including adherence to a Mediterranean diet
Replacing 5 g (about 1 teaspoon) of margarine and mayonnaise with the equivalent amount of olive oil daily was associated with an 8-14% lower risk of dementia mortality
Onset of most dementia types is gradual and progression is slow, making dementia-related mortality difficult to study,
Tessier noted. "To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine diet, specifically olive oil, in relation to dementia death," she told MedPage Today.
Typically, people who use olive oil for cooking or as a dressing have an overall better quality of their diet, but interestingly
Current dietary guidelines regarding fats are mainly based on evidence related to cardiovascular health," she added.