Brain Health

Eating More Vegetables and Fruit Cuts Dementia Risk by Up to 26%

A large study combining data from three prospective cohorts and 13 prior studies found that people who eat the most vegetables and fruits have meaningfully lower dementia risk than those who eat the least. Among nearly 19,000 adults followed for up to 13 years, those in the highest third of combined fruit and vegetable intake had a 26% lower risk of developing dementia. The broader meta-analysis, spanning over 222,000 participants, confirmed the pattern — with vegetables and fruits each independently associated with reduced risk. Green leafy vegetables showed the strongest specific benefit, with each additional daily serving linked to an 18% lower risk. Researchers found no significant effects for other individual fruit or vegetable subgroups, suggesting green leafy vegetables may be a particularly potent dietary lever for brain protection.