The study links higher meat intake to a lower risk of dementia in the group with the genetic variant

While some experts suggest adopting plant-centered diets for better health, recent research suggests that eating higher amounts of unprocessed meat may protect against dementia in older adults who have a variant of the APOE gene, which is associated with an increased risk of dementia. Alzheimer’s risk.

The researchers tracked more than 2,100 elderly participants — all of whom were free of dementia at the start of the study — for up to 15 years as part of the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care.

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Participants reported on their diets, while researchers periodically assessed their cognitive performance through extensive testing and a structured dementia diagnostic process.

The study then compared the cognitive health of participants with higher levels Genetic risks For Alzheimer’s disease (those with the variant APOE 3/4 and 4/4 genotypes) with those without the genotypes.

A new study suggests that eating more meat may help improve memory. (Istock)

Previous studies have shown that individuals with the APOE 3/4 genotype have a three to four times higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than the general population, while those with the 4/4 genotype have an eight to 12 times higher risk, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Everyone has the APOE gene — one copy from each parent — but about one in four Americans carries a version (such as APOE 3/4) that can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to the National Institutes of Health.

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The researchers found that participants with a higher genetic risk who ate less meat had more than twice the risk of developing dementia compared to those without the genetic variants.

Those with genetic variants who ate the largest amount of meat ate the largest amount of meat Slow down cognitive decline Reduced risk of dementia.

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The study also found that eating less Processed meat It was associated with a lower risk of dementia, independent of APOE genotype.

“When standardized to a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet, average weekly intake ranged from about 250 grams in the lowest quintile to 870 grams in the highest quintile,” first author Jakob Norgren, a researcher in the Department of Neuroscience, Care and Community Sciences at Karolinska Institutet, told Fox News Digital.

“While this study suggests a specific benefit for some genotypes, a larger body of evidence suggests that the MIND Diet is beneficial for long-term brain health,” one medical expert noted. (Istock)

The researchers did not study the “carnivorous diet” as the participants who ate this diet did Most meat Norgren added that he still eats moderate amounts of grains and dairy products.

The study results were published in JAMA Network Open.

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Sue Noy Escobar, a registered dietitian based in Miami, urged caution when interpreting the results, as the study refers to grams of meat, not grams of protein.

“When you translate that, you get about 30 grams of protein a day from meat, which is something a lot of people already eat,” Escobar, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines recommend including lean meat and poultry as part of a healthy protein intake, limiting red meat, and reducing processed meat.

Study limitations

Since the study is observational, it does not prove that eating more meat directly leads to a reduction in Alzheimer’s disease or slower progression. Cognitive decline – Researchers have only noticed that there is a relationship between the two.

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“While this study suggests a specific benefit for some genotypes, a larger body of evidence suggests so MIND Diet For long-term brain health,” Jamie Mock, a registered dietitian and national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told Fox News Digital.

The Los Angeles-based expert recommends following a diet consisting of foods rich in nutrients as one of the most promising and practical strategies to delay cognitive decline and support the body in general. Healthy aging.

Nearly one in 10 Americans over the age of 65 have dementia, while another 22% have cognitive impairment, according to a recent national study. (Istock)

“By focusing on leafy greens, berries, nuts, legumes, and lean proteins, this Eating pattern “It has been shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by half and slow brain aging by several years,” Mok added.

Nearly one in 10 Americans over the age of 65 have dementia, while another 22% have cognitive impairment, according to a recent national study.

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The number of new Alzheimer’s cases is expected to double in the coming decades Population ages – From about 514,000 in 2020 to more than one million by 2060.

Last year, dementia cost the United States an estimated $781 billion and led to more than 100,000 deaths, according to the National Institutes of Health.