Anti-Inflammatory Diet Linked to Lower Dementia Risk in Swedish Cohort

The JAMA Network Open study tracked over 1,800 Swedish adults aged 60 + who were dementia-free at baseline. Food questionnaires over six years yielded a dietary inflammatory index and three Alzheimer’s-related blood biomarkers. Over up to 15 years, 240 participants developed dementia. Lower dietary inflammatory potential correlated with reduced risk, including a 29 % lower risk among those with high p-tau217 and similar benefits for the other biomarkers.

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The lower-inflammation diet emphasized vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes and whole grains while limiting sugar-sweetened drinks, ultraprocessed foods and red meat. It overlaps with the Mediterranean diet but was not prescribed; the index derived from participants’ reported intake.

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Chronic low-grade inflammation can damage blood vessels, injure nerve cells and activate brain immune cells, contributing to cognitive decline alongside genetics, vascular disease, smoking and heavy alcohol use.

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Dr. Leana Wen, emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University, said the findings support healthy eating but warned that the observational design cannot prove causality. She noted reliance on self-reported questionnaires and limited generalizability beyond older Swedes. Wen advised whole-food, minimally processed diets plus regular exercise, blood-pressure and cholesterol control, smoking cessation, moderate alcohol, adequate sleep and social engagement.

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The non-experimental design, memory-based questionnaires and limited generalizability beyond older Swedes are limitations. Randomized trials are needed to test if anti-inflammatory diets can prevent dementia.

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• >1,800 participants >=60 years (Sweden)

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• 240 dementia cases

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• 29 % lower risk for high p-tau217 group

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• Similar reductions for two other biomarkers

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If the association holds, dietary modification could provide a scalable, low-cost way to lower dementia risk. The same pattern is linked to reduced heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and several cancers, suggesting broader health benefits.

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• “Among participants with higher levels of an Alzheimer’s disease-related biomarker called p-tau217, greater adherence to an anti-inflammatory diet was associated with a 29% lower risk of dementia.” — Dr. Leana Wen

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• “When you have an infection or an injury, inflammation helps your body heal.” — Dr. Leana Wen

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• “The concern is that chronic, low-grade inflammation can persist for years, which researchers believe may contribute to many age-related diseases.” — Dr. Leana Wen

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• “Wen: I certainly think this study provides another reason to adopt healthy eating habits, but I would be careful not to overinterpret the findings.” — Dr. Leana Wen

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• “We cannot change our age or our genes, but we can make choices that are associated with better health.” — Dr. Leana Wen

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Future studies should test anti-inflammatory diets in randomized trials and across diverse ethnic and geographic groups. This will clarify whether diet can move from association to proven dementia prevention.

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