A new study suggested that adhering to a healthy diet in midlife could help patients maintain physical, cognitive, and mental health into later years.
In the study, presented at NUTRITION 2024 in Chicago, investigators analyzed data from over 100,000 participants spanning 30 years.
Among the key findings were:
- Participants who followed healthy dietary patterns from their 40s onward were 43% to 84% more likely to demonstrate well-functioning physical and mental health at age 70 compared with those who did not follow the dietary patterns.
- The alternative healthy eating index, which closely adheres to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, showed the strongest correlation with healthy aging.
- Other dietary patterns associated with healthy aging included the planetary health diet, Mediterranean diet, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypeertension (DASH) diet, and the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet.
"[Individuals] who adhered to healthy dietary patterns in midlife, especially those rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, were significantly more likely to achieve healthy aging," highlighted Anne-Julie Tessier, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.
The study found that higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts, legumes, and low-fat dairy were associated with a greater rate of healthy aging. Conversely, higher consumption of trans fat, sodium, total meats, and red and processed meats were linked to a lower rate of healthy aging.
Dr. Tessier noted that the study provided evidence for dietary recommendations to not only prevent disease development but also promote overall healthy aging.
Future research may explore the potential impacts of switching to a healthier dietary pattern later in life.
