Study: Mediterranean diet linked to lower risk for dementia

(CNN) – If you’re at risk for dementia, you might want to try the Mediterranean diet.

A new study finds the diet lowers the risk of dementia, especially people with the APOE4 gene.

The gene is a major genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

The Mediterranean diet is plant-based, full of fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, legumes and olive oil.

The diet also calls for little to no alcohol or red or processed meat.

Researchers found that people with two APOE4 genes reduced their probability of developing dementia by at least 35% when following the Mediterranean diet.

The research followed 5,700 people for more than three decades.

The study was published Monday in the journal “Nature.”