Navigation
Association of the Planetary Health Diet with dementia risk and brain pathology
The implications of diet on cognitive health become increasingly significant as populations age. The Planetary Health Diet (PHD), formulated by the EAT-Lancet Commission, aims to promote both human and environmental well-being, yet its influence on dementia and brain health has not been extensively explored.
The Rush Memory and Aging Project provides a compelling investigation into this topic. This longitudinal study tracked 926 dementia-free adults, averaging 79.4 years old, for a period extending up to 20 years. Researchers employed a food-frequency questionnaire comprising over 142 items to evaluate participants’ dietary habits at baseline. Adherence to the PHD was categorized into tertiles, while clinical diagnoses of dementia and Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) were conducted. Among the 581 participants who passed away, brain autopsies were performed to assess Alzheimer’s disease, vascular, and additional pathologies. Furthermore, cognitive function near the end of life was evaluated using a standardized neuropsychological battery.
Results after a median follow-up of 7.5 years revealed that 317 participants developed dementia. Notably, individuals with high adherence to the PHD exhibited a significantly lower risk of all-cause dementia (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.71) and AD (HR = 0.70). Additionally, high adherence correlated with a reduction in Alzheimer’s disease pathologies, a delay of 2.17 years in the onset of dementia, and enhanced cognitive function in the period leading up to death.
This study suggests that following the PHD may contribute positively to brain aging and cognitive resilience, highlighting the importance of dietary choices in maintaining cognitive health. [NPID: Planetary Health Diet, Eat-Lancet, dementia, brain]
Year: 2026
