Pixabay A study of more than 90,000 U.S. health professionals found that olive oil lovers were less likely to die of dementia over the next three decades. Photo by Umbe Ber
People looking to stay mentally sharp as they age might want to swap out margarine for olive oil, a preliminary study suggests. The study, of more than 90,000 U.S. health professionals, found that olive oil lovers were less likely to die of dementia over the next three decades. Advertisement
Compared with their counterparts who rarely used olive oil, those who consumed more than a half-tablespoon a day were 28% less likely to die of dementia.
Based on the researchers’ estimates, a small diet change could make a significant difference: Trading in one daily teaspoon of margarine for the same amount of olive oil might trim the risk of death from dementia by up to 14%.
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The findings were being presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, in Boston. They’re considered preliminary because they have not been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
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And, experts said, studies like this can only show correlations — and not proof that olive oil protects the aging brain.
Olive oil associated with a lower risk of dying of dementia
