SCIENTISTS COMPARE EIGHT DIETARY PATTERNS TO SEE HOW THEY AFFECT HEALTHY AGEING

With people living longer than ever, they often seek to know the secrets to healthy ageing. Previous research has shown that certain lifestyle factors like not smoking, limiting alcohol use, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and eating healthy all play a role in healthy ageing.

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Now, a new study has found that following specific dietary patterns that focus on eating plant-based foods and limiting ultra-processed and animal-based foods may help a person age healthily with no chronic diseases or cognitive issues at age 70. The findings were recently published in the journal Nature Medicine.

For the study, the researchers defined “healthy ageing” as reaching the age of 70 without a major chronic condition, and maintaining good cognitive, physical and mental health. They analysed health data from more than 105,000 adult participants of the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. Participants ranged in age from 39 to 69 at the start of the study and were followed for 30 years, during which they were regularly asked questions about their diet. The researchers focused on eight different dietary patterns, namely:

• Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI)

• Alternative Mediterranean Index (AMED)

• Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)

• Empirical Dietary Index for Hyperinsulinemia (EDIH)