Med diet may slow down brain decline

Could a daily swig of olive oil sharpen your memory? That’s the thinking behind a new study being carried out by the Greek Association of Alzheimer’s disease and Related disorders.

In a two-year trial, 150 people with mild cognitive impairment — which can be an early sign of dementia — will have 50ml of extra virgin olive oil, about three tablespoons, every day or a placebo, or will follow a Mediterranean diet which includes some olive oil.

The researchers believe antioxidant compounds in the oil, called oleocanthal, oleuropein and ligstroside, may protect the brain against dementia by preventing the development of protein tangles in the brain that are associated with the disease.