Dementia Support Line
SACN report on diet and dementia risk - Alzheimer's Society comment
A report published yesterday (28 February) by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has suggested that there is little evidence of a link between diet and dementia risk.
The review of current evidence by the SACN suggested that there is insufficient evidence that following a Mediterranean diet pattern, or taking specific food supplements will reduce a person's risk of dementia.
Dr Doug Brown, Chief Policy and Research Officer at from Alzheimer’s Society said:
'There’s no evidence that eating a certain food, or taking a specific vitamin or supplement can affect the risk of dementia, but we do know that people who eat a Mediterranean style diet tend to have a lower risk of dementia. Dementia is set to be the 21st century’s biggest killer, and with no way yet to cure the condition, prevention is key.
'We recommend eating plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains, having fish twice a week, and using healthier fats like olive oil. It’s also a good idea to cut down on red meat, saturated fats, refined sugar and salty foods.
We’re still waiting for proof from big trials to show whether changing your diet can reduce the risk of dementia, and by how much. But eating a healthy, balanced diet can reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and stroke, so it’s likely eating healthily is a good way to look after the health of your brain too.'
