Overview

• Published in Nature Medicine, the study reports that long-term Mediterranean-style eating is associated with fewer dementia cases and slower cognitive decline.
• The strongest association was seen in people with two APOE4 copies, with the lead author citing about a 35% lower probability of dementia for baseline adherence and further reductions with closer adherence.
• Researchers examined 4,215 women in the Nurses’ Health Study (1989–2023) and validated results in 1,490 men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (1993–2023), using food questionnaires, genetic data, and blood metabolomics.
• Blood metabolite profiles differed by APOE4 status and appeared to partly mediate the diet–cognition link, suggesting plausible biological pathways.
• The authors stress the observational design, the predominantly European-ancestry cohorts, and limited clinical translation to date, urging trials and studies in more diverse populations.