Extra-virgin olive oil can protect you from dementia

Study found olive oil prompts the brain to remove harmful clutter in the brain

Extra-virgin olive oil preserves memory and protects the brain against dementia, according to new research.

The oil is a key ingredient of the Mediterranean diet, which is associated with a variety of health benefits, including a lower dementia risk, reports Daily Mail. 

The scientists have now discovered that olive oil reduces the risk of dementia by prompting the brain to clear out harmful debris.

Regularly eating olive oil can protect your memory and your ability to learn new things as you age, according to the new study. The discovery has been hailed as an 'exciting' breakthrough in the battle against Alzheimer's disease.

How does olive oil protect against dementia?

Cosuming olive oil reduces the formation of harmful structures in the brain, including amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.

Previous research has shown the presence of these structures in the brain increases a person's likelihood of getting Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers also identified the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of extra-virgin olive oil.

Lead researcher Professor Domenico Pratico, from Temple University in Pennsylvania, said: 'We found that olive oil reduces brain inflammation but most importantly activates a process known as autophagy.'

Autophagy is the process by which cells break down and clear out unwanted debris left in the body.

Mice with induced Alzheimer's who were fed a diet of olive oil had higher levels of autophagy in the brain, according to researchers.

Professor Pratico said: 'Brain cells from mice fed diets enriched with extra-virgin olive oil had higher levels of autophagy and reduced levels of amyloid plaques and phosphorylated tau.'

Professor Pratico said, "The thinking is that extra-virgin olive oil is better than fruits and vegetables alone, and as a monounsaturated vegetable fat it is healthier than saturated animal fats."

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