Protect Your Memory With “Liquid Gold”

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, called it “the great healer,” and the poet Homer said it was “liquid gold.” It’s been held in high esteem for over 2,000 years, and this culinary ingredient is still highly regarded today.

While it’s mostly noted for its heart-protective qualities, its brain health benefits are just as important, if not more so. A new study from Harvard shows that it lowers the risk of death from dementia.

Scientists Highly Recommend Extra Virgin Olive Oil

We’ve long reported on the health benefits of olive oil and how it lowers inflammation and protects the brain thanks to its high concentration of monounsaturated fats (omega-9), omega-3, and other antioxidant-acting compounds like vitamin E and polyphenols. Animal and human studies also show it can restore blood-brain barrier function and reduce the buildup of toxic proteins—a boon to memory function.

In 2019, medical experts from Spain concluded that extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) should be “the fat of choice when it comes to human health.”[1]

One study comparing a low-fat diet with a high EVOO Mediterranean diet for 6.5 years found those eating the latter displayed better cognitive performance in verbal fluency and memory tests and were less prone to develop mild cognitive impairment.[2]

Another scientific investigation found olive oil users over 65 had better verbal fluency and visual memory than non-users.[3]

Finally, a review of 11 high-quality trials published last year found that EVOO enhances cognitive functioning and reduces cognitive decline. In their conclusion, the research team wrote, "the regular consumption of olive oil is a highly recommended means to improve cognitive functioning and to prevent or delay the occurrence of cognitive disorders.”[4]

Since most trials are conducted in Mediterranean countries where olive oil is more popular, a Harvard team wanted to see if its consumption influenced death from dementia among Americans. Their findings are good news…

Harvard Study: EVOO Lowers Risk of Dementia Death by 28 Percent

The Harvard team analyzed the diets and health outcomes of 92,383 nurses and male health professionals with an average age of 56 who were free of cardiovascular disease and cancer when the study began.

Each participant filled out a food questionnaire every four years for 28 years. The researchers then divided them into four groups according to how much olive they consumed: never or less than once a month; daily up to 4.5 grams; between 4.6 and 7 grams; over 7 grams. Over the 28 years, 4,751 deaths occurred from dementia.

After crunching the numbers to consider the influence of genetics, health, sociodemographic factors, overall diet quality, and lifestyle, they discovered that medical professionals who consumed more than seven grams (half a tablespoon) of olive oil a day enjoyed a 28 percent lower risk of dementia-related death compared with those who never or rarely consumed olive oil.

In a further analysis, where other fats were substituted for olive oil, they found vegetable oils or butter made no difference. However, replacing five grams of margarine and mayonnaise with the equivalent olive oil daily produced an eight percent to 14 percent lower risk of death from dementia.[5]

There’s Something Special About Olive Oil

Anne-Julie Tessier, lead author of the study published in JAMA Network Open in May said: "To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine diet, specifically olive oil, in relation to dementia mortality.

"By repeatedly measuring diet and accounting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors in our statistical models, we were able to isolate as much as possible the effect that olive oil consumption may have on dementia mortality.

"For example, people who use olive oil for cooking or as a dressing typically have an overall better quality of their diet, but interestingly, we found the association to be regardless of this factor.”

As for diet quality, and even though olive oil benefits the heart by acting on multiple factors, the researchers found that having high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes made no difference to their findings.

“This suggests,” Dr Tessier added. “a specific benefit associated with olive oil consumption itself."[6]

Our Takeaway

This research doesn’t surprise us. Olive oil is integral to many of the leading science-backed health and longevity diets today. We’re talking not only about the Mediterranean Diet, but also the Longevity Diet and the Green Med Diet. Each diet plan is relatively easy to follow and rich in nutritious vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy protein sources. They’ve each been proven to add years to your lifespan, protecting and sharpening your memory.