Mediterranean Diet, Actually

"Our study reinforces dietary guidelines recommending vegetable oils such as olive oil and suggests that these recommendations not only support heart health, but potentially brain health as well."

"Opting for olive oil, a natural product, instead of fats such as margarine and commercial mayonnaise is a safe choice and may reduce the risk of fatal dementia."

"It is also possible that olive oil has an indirect effect on brain health by benefiting cardiovascular health."

"Given that olive oil is the primary source of added fat in a typical Mediterranean diet, we were interested in examining its association with fatal dementia."

"Olive oil may play a beneficial role in cognitive health through its rich content in monounsaturated fatty acids, which may promote neurogenesis. It also contains vitamin E and polyphenols, a trusted source that have antioxidant activity." 

Dr. Anne-Julie Tessier, Harvard T.H.Chan School of Public Health

An Auburn University study tested the effects the consumption of extra virgin olive oil or refined olive oil had on participants

Uncertain what precisely drives the salubrious effect of including olive oil in one's daily diet, the educated guess by experts is that the antioxidants in olive oil is able to pass through the blood-brain barrier, having a direct effect on cognition. It is well known and accepted that olive oil improves heart health;  again, the assumption that it may have an indirect impact on maintaining a healthy brain, according to the speculation of nutritional science.

 

A new study out of Harvard University goes a little further; researchers followed 90,000 people in the United States over a thirty-year period. In that time frame, 4,749 of the study subjects, around 5.2 percent, died. According to the results of the study people who consumed over half a tablespoon of olive oil daily acquired a 28 percent lower risk of dying from dementia during that time, in comparison with others who never, or rarely consumed olive oil. 

Evidently the study concluded that replacing one teaspoon of margarine or mayonnaise with the equivalent amount of olive oil daily was associated with up to a 14 percent lower risk of dying from dementia. Still, the link between olive oil and dementia mortality risk remained, even when a superior diet was accounted for, leaving the impression that the oil may contain properties uniquely beneficial for the brain.

Previous studies have linked higher olive oil intake with a lower risk of heart disease. Incorporating olive oil as part of a Mediterranean dietary pattern has also been shown to help protect against cognitive decline. Credit: Neuroscience News

 

"Other compounds such as oleocanthal and oleuropein are [also] considered beneficial."

"There is also some evidence showing that it is the combination of all these different compounds more than a single element responsible for the positive effects."

"EVOO [extra-virgin olive oil] enhanced the blood-brain barrier function and functional connectivity between different brain areas in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which could emphasize EVOO-phenolics’ effect."

"Our findings showed that EVOO and ROO improved cognitive function as determined by the improved clinical dementia rating and other behavioral scores."

"Interestingly, the MRI scans results were not the same between EVOO and ROO. While EVOO enhanced the blood-brain barrier function and the functional connectivity between different brain areas, ROO increased the functional brain activation to a memory task in brain regions involved in cognition."

Dr. Amal Khalil Kaddoumi, professor, Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University

Professor Amal Kaddoumi, standing, recently completed a study that found extra virgin olive oil may have positive effects on individuals with mild cognitive impairment. Auburn University

"These results are exciting because they support the health benefits of olive oil against Alzheimer’s disease,"

"Based on the findings of this study and previous pre-clinical studies by us and others, we can conclude that adding olive oil to our diet could maintain a healthy brain and improve memory function."

Professor Amal Kaddoumi