Research
Mixed
Plant-based diets, particularly those emphasizing nutritious plant foods, are associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment and dementia compared to non-vegetarian diets.
Shift your diet to center around plants: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. This pattern is linked to a significantly lower risk of dementia. Ensure you are eating 'nutritious' plant foods, as less healthy plant-based patterns may not offer the same benefits.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
A substantial cohort study conducted in Taiwan, involving 12,062 participants, revealed that vegetarians exhibited a 38% reduced risk of developing dementia in comparison to their non-vegetarian counterparts.
Why this rating
Supported by large cohort studies, though some conflicting US cohort data is noted.
Source
The intricate interplay between dietary habits and cognitive function: insights from the gut-brain axis
Ruyi Zhang et al. · Frontiers in Nutrition · 2025
DOI 10.3389/fnut.2025.1539355
narrative_reviewCited 21×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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