As kids, we all remember the phrase “eat your veggies.” Now, new research from Sweden suggests there might be a little wiggle room.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, discovered that eating more meat might be beneficial for those at risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers observed more than 2,100 adults over the age of 60 for 15 years, all of whom were dementia-free at the start. Those who consumed lower amounts of meat had twice the risk of developing dementia compared with their higher-intake counterparts.
But don’t go stocking up on ribeye just yet. The effect only applied to adults carrying the APOE4 [ay-poh-ee four] variant, a gene associated with a greater risk of Alzheimer’s. While everyone has the APOE gene, only about 15% to 25% carry this version.
Researchers suggest this might have to do with evolution. It’s likely the gene appeared at a time when our ancestors followed a largely animal-based diet. Similarly, eating unprocessed meat, rather than heavily processed options, also was associated with better outcomes.
And the benefits didn’t stop there. Those same high-risk individuals who consumed more meat actually had a lower risk of death from any cause.
This was an observational study, meaning it can’t prove that meat directly prevents Alzheimer’s. However, the findings reveal something bigger: Our concept of nutrition might not be one-size-fits-all. Instead of relying solely on general dietary advice, you might want to tailor your diet to your DNA.
So, while a handful of greens is always a good idea, what’s considered “healthy” might depend on what your genes bring to the table.