Extra-Virgin Olive Oil May Protect Against Alzheimer's

There's been a growing focus on the Mediterranean Diet in recent years. This is largely because of the extended life expectancy of residents living in the region. While there are different theories regarding why people in the Mediterranean live longer, one of the most plausible theories lies in their diet.

The Mediterranean Diet focuses on lean meats and healthy fats, the latter of which are found in high concentrations in extra-virgin olive oil. A recent study has sought to further investigate the benefits of extra-virgin olive oil, with some rather surprising findings.

For the study, researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine fed mice different diets, including a diet of extra-virgin olive oil. The mice that consumed this olive oil diet experienced better memory, relocation and learning abilities when compared to the control group, which did not consume olive oil.

So, how does extra-virgin olive oil offer such amazing cognitive benefits? Researchers believe that it protects the brain from inflammation, while also triggering a biological phenomenon known as an autophagy process. During the autophagy process, cellular debris and toxins are flushed from the system. When this debris and toxins remain stagnant, it could lead to Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive problems. Consequently, when the autophagy process stops or slows down, it can increase the risk of such diseases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. Typically affecting older adults at 60 years of age, it's a progressive condition to which there is no cure. There are ways, however, to slow down its progression -- and increasing your intake of extra-virgin olive oil may help.

As explained by the study's author and researcher, the autophagy process remained intact for mice that consumed extra-virgin olive oil.

"Thanks to the autophagy activation, memory and synaptic integrity were preserved, and the pathological effects in animals otherwise destined to develop Alzheimer's disease were significantly reduced," said the study's lead author and researcher. "We want to know whether olive oil added at a later time point in the diet can stop or reverse the disease."

This study only found a correlation between improved cognitive function and extra-virgin olive oil; it did not reveal how the olive oil offered these health benefits. In any case, it's safe to say that extra-virgin olive oil is a powerful and nutritious ingredient to use when preparing your meals.

This study was published in the journal Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.