Dementia is a growing problem, according to the “Delphi Consensus Study”, appearing in the Lancet (2005; 366(9503): 2112-7), there is a new case of dementia every seven seconds. The authors predict that the number of cases of dementia will double in developed countries between 2001 and 2040. There are 23.4 million cases of dementia worldwide, with 4.6 million additional new cases each year.
Diet may, in part, help to prevent dementia. Research appearing in the Archives of Neurology (Dec 2006; 63: 1709–17) indicates that the Mediterranean diet may lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers analyzed the diets of 194 Alzheimer’s patients and 1,790 people without the disease. Subjects were rated on their adherence to the Mediterranean diet on a scale from 0 to 9, and using a 61-item version of Willett's semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Strictly following the diet was associated with a decreased incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. The risk was lowered between 19 and 24% for each point (on the 0-9 scale used by the researchers). Those in the top 1/3 of dietary compliance had a 68% reduced risk when compared to those not following the diet.

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