Over 64,000 people are currently living with dementia in Ireland and those figures are expected to increase in the coming decades.
However, there are some ways you can decrease your chances of developing the disease in your later years.
A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found the highest adherence to a specific diet decreased the risk of dementia by a massive 72%.
The research found that following a Mediterranean-style diet can decrease your risk of dementia and other illnesses.
"Current evidence suggests that nutrition in general and specific dietary patterns in particular, such as the Mediterranean type diet (MeDi), can be employed as potential preventive strategies against the development of dementia and cognitive decline," researchers wrote in a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Current evidence suggests that nutrition in general and specific dietary patterns in particular, such as the Mediterranean type diet (MeDi), can be employed as potential preventive strategies against the development of dementia and cognitive decline.
"However, longitudinal data exploring the applicability of these findings in populations of Mediterranean origin are limited.
The study aimed to explore the potential relationships of MeDi adherence with dementia incidence rates and cognitive change over time in a traditional Mediterranean population, characterized by a lifelong exposure to Mediterranean eating habits and lifestyle.
The sample consisted of 1046 non-demented individuals over the age of 64 with available baseline dietary information and longitudinal follow-up.
Diagnosis of dementia was made by a full clinical and neuropsychological evaluation, while cognitive performance was assessed according to five cognitive domains; memory, language, attention speed, executive functioning, visuospatial perception and a global cognitive score.
Adherence to MeDi was evaluated by an a priori score (range 0–55), derived from a detailed food frequency questionnaire.
The study found that a total of 62 incident dementia cases occurred during a mean of 3.1 years of follow-up.
Individuals with the highest adherence to MeDi had a 72 per cent lower risk for the development of dementia compared to those in the lowest one.
In addition, analysis of cognitive performance as a function of MeDi score revealed that the biennial cognitive benefit of a 10-unit increase in MeDi score offsets the cognitive decline associated with one year of cognitive ageing.
The researchers concluded: "In the present study, higher adherence to MeDi was associated with a reduced risk for dementia and cognitive decline in a traditional Mediterranean population."
