Some diet changes can help prevent dementia, even for people at higher risk. Two scientists wrote about their research on the UK Conversation website.

In the UK, many people have dementia - almost 1 million. This number will rise to 1.4 million by 2040. Scientists Anja Mrhar and Adrián Carballo Casla studied 1,900 adults in Sweden for 15 years. None of them had dementia at the start, but 240 got it later.

The study looked at what people eat and if healthy eating can lower dementia risk.

The scientists found that people who eat healthy food have a lower risk of dementia. This is true even for people with higher biological risk.

The scientists did not just look at single foods, but at overall eating patterns. People eat many foods together, not just one nutrient. Previous research linked diet quality to Alzheimer's disease.

The scientists looked at three ways to describe diet quality: a Mediterranean diet, general healthy eating, and diets that cause inflammation. They wanted to know if different diets are better for people with different biological profiles.

The scientists found that diets that cause inflammation are a big factor. If people eat food that reduces inflammation, they have a 30% lower risk of dementia.

A diet that reduces inflammation includes more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and tea and coffee. It also includes less red meat, processed meat, and sugary drinks.

Inflammation is the body's way of fighting infection and injury. But long-term inflammation can be bad for us.

Scientists think that long-term inflammation may contribute to brain aging and dementia. It can affect the brain directly and indirectly.

A Mediterranean diet and a healthy diet can lower dementia risk, especially for people with lower biomarker levels.

These diets may still be good for people at higher biological risk. Different diets may work in different ways depending on a person's biological profile.

The study had many strengths, including repeated information on diet and many years of follow-up.

A healthy diet cannot completely prevent dementia. Age, genes, and other factors also play a role. But diet may still be important for brain health.

The scientists want to find out which foods and nutrients are most important for preventing dementia. This will help give better advice on dementia prevention in the future.

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