Diet and Dementia Risk in Individuals With Prevalent Neuropathology

By
Sokratis Charisis
Nikolaos Scarmeas
June 25, 2026
0 min

Jama Network Open

Overview

This study investigates the relationship between adherence to healthy dietary patterns and dementia risk in older adults with varying levels of neurodegenerative biomarkers. Higher adherence to a diet with lower inflammatory potential was linked to a reduced risk of dementia among individuals with elevated biomarkers, while associations for other dietary patterns were noted primarily in those with lower biomarker levels.

Background

Understanding the impact of dietary patterns on dementia risk is crucial, especially as Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia. The emergence of blood-based biomarkers has transformed AD diagnostics, allowing for earlier identification of individuals at risk.

Data Highlights

No numerical data available in the source material.

Key Findings

Higher adherence to the reversed Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Index (rEDII) was associated with a lower risk of incident dementia in individuals with elevated neurodegenerative biomarkers.
Inverse associations with dementia risk for the Alternate Mediterranean Diet (AMED) and Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) were observed primarily in participants with lower neurodegenerative biomarker levels.
Greater adherence to all three dietary patterns correlated with more time spent free of dementia among individuals with high p-tau217 levels.
Dietary habits may influence cognitive health, particularly in the context of existing neuropathological changes.
Phenotyping individuals based on neurodegenerative pathology may enhance the identification of those likely to benefit from dietary interventions.

Clinical Implications

Clinicians should consider the role of dietary patterns in managing dementia risk, particularly in patients with identifiable neurodegenerative biomarkers.