Not all oils are created equal—some may actually reduce your risk of dying from dementia

A groundbreaking study found that olive oil might just be the brain savior we’ve all been looking for

Picture this: Your memory messes up, and you’re having a hard time remembering your happy childhood. This might be dementia.

But turns out, there’s a common ingredient sitting in your kitchen pantries that might be the answer to memory loss: olive oil.

And no, this is not just your ordinary cooking oil tale. A groundbreaking study found that olive oil might just be the brain savior we’ve all been looking for.

Dementia is a condition affecting cognitive and memory abilities, posing challenges to daily life. However, this new research shows that olive oil may lower the risk of severe dementia and dementia-related death.

Experts from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health evaluated the dietary questionnaires and death records of over 90,000 Americans for the last three decades. About 4,749 dementia-related death cases have recorded APOE e4—the strongest genetic factor for Alzheimer’s. They then regularly studied the participants’ diets in the 28-year follow-up period.

Daily consumption of olive oil is associated with a 28% lower risk of fatal dementia, according to research from @HarvardChanSPH: https://t.co/4YPn06RbCy #Nutrition2023 #Alzheimers pic.twitter.com/1NvqZnnsBH

— American Society for Nutrition (@nutritionorg) July 24, 2023

Using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index, which rates the foods and nutrients anticipated for chronic illness, the team evaluated the diet quality. The results show that regardless of the overall diet, consuming more than half a tablespoon of olive oil daily was linked to an impressive 28 percent reduced risk of dementia death.

Thus, even just replacing your usual teaspoon of mayo or margarine with olive oil can drop dementia risk by a solid 8 to 14 percent.

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The power of olive oil for brain health

Anne-Julie Tessier, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said, “While some studies have previously linked olive oil intake to better heart health, our research suggests that the benefits extend to brain health as well.”

Olive oil and dementia death rate appeared to be unrelated to the overall diet quality, hinting at how olive oil may work wonders for your brain. This oil, along with its unique properties, may also reduce the risk of heart disease.

While Asian-Americans may show a lower survival rate for cardiac arrests, olive oil’s positive effects on cardiovascular health may indirectly affect the brain, too. Thus, it’s essential to maintain a healthy diet for your overall health, not just your brain.

In addition, Tessier noted that certain antioxidants in olives can cross the blood-brain barrier, impacting the brain directly. However, though this study is good news for dementia candidates, Tessier cautioned that it needs more in-depth studies.

David Curtis, the honorary professor at the UCL Genetics Institute at University College London, confirmed that these findings would be reported at a conference and that independent experts have yet to examine them.

If it is indeed proven that olive oil possesses these new benefits for the brain, it’ll only add up to the evidence-based health benefits that already make the natural oil possibly the healthiest fat you can consume.