Olive oil in general is considered a healthy option compared to normal refined oils in the market. But a recent study published in the Journal JAMA Network Open says that olive oil is associated with a lower risk of dementia-related mortality.Â
Researchers found that people who consume more than 7 grams of olive oil daily had significantly lower dementia-related mortality rates than those who consume less than 7 grams.Â
92,383 participants in this study were analyzed among which 65% were women aged 56 years. The researchers conducted a 28-year follow-up. During the study period, there were 37,649 total deaths and 4,751 dementia-related deaths. At the start of the study, the mean olive oil consumption was 1.3 grams/day.Â
Overall, the researchers found that having at least 7 grams of olive oil every day was associated with a 28% lower risk of dementia-related death. There is research on monounsaturated fats and brain and cognitive health which says that replacing 5 gm of margarine with olive oil is associated with an 8% lower risk of dementia-related death. The researchers also reported that diet quality did not influence the effectiveness of olive oil consumption. Higher olive oil intake is also associated with a lower risk of dementia-related mortality irrespective of diet quality. Beyond heart health, the findings extend the current dietary recommendations of choosing olive and other vegetable oils for cognitive-related health.Â
Some doctors say that including a variety of cooking oils is better for health in the long run. Both butter and olive oil can slow down blood sugar response after your meal and each has its unique health benefits. In general, choosing unsaturated fats like olive oil most of the time and reaching for butter and saturated oils sometimes is recommended. Â
A study published in 2022 shows that higher olive oil intake is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and other neurodegenerative diseases. Doctors say that olive oil has many benefits which are not limited to decreased death rates for dementia. Consuming olive oil in most of the recipes can be a good practice among people.Â
Taking olive oil supplements is not recommended since it is not a replacement. The serving size and minimum effectiveness in a supplement are likely hard to find when one could cook more often with olive oil and reap the same benefits. In fact, in this study, the lowest risk was from eating olive oil along with a healthy diet. If a person wants an extra boost, they can consider adding a supplement.Â
Journal Reference – (N.d.).
