Study Links Western Diet to Cognitive Decline in Older Adults with Alzheimer's Risk Genes
A recent study published in the journal Nutrients has examined the impact of Western and Prudent dietary patterns on cognitive decline in older adults, particularly focusing on those with the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele, a known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. The research, conducted as part of the Western Australia Memory Study, involved 185 participants from Perth, recruited between 2006 and 2009. These individuals underwent cognitive assessments and dietary evaluations over several years. The study found that adherence to a Western diet was associated with a faster decline in attention among APOE ε4 carriers, although this association weakened when participants with possible baseline cognitive impairment were excluded. No significant cognitive associations were observed for the Prudent dietary pattern or among non-carriers of the APOE ε4 allele. 
