People are developing dementia earlier and dying of it more, a study shows (Much more so in USA)

[Arugula Latte]

8. There was some scientific speculation a few years ago that beef eating was a factor.

One theory was that a lot of mad cow disease type stuff lies dormant in brains for decades and then starts to do its damage, mimicking other types of dementia.

Cholesterol and saturated fat (in meat) seem to be a contributing factor to dementia, as is low veggie/fruit intake.

https://www.pcrm.org/health/health-topics/diet-and-alzheimers-disease

Nutrition Research

Studies have shown that risk for AD is greater in people who consume diets high in cholesterol, saturated fats, and total calories and low in fiber, vegetables, and fruits.3,4,5 Such diets seem to play a role in the formation of beta-amyloid plaques and in causing oxidative damage to neurons.6,7,8,9 This is also supported by data demonstrating a decreased risk of AD with use of lipid-lowering medications10,11 and by preliminary findings in one study, which showed an increased incidence in dementia in heavy meat eaters compared with vegetarians.12

At the Ninth Annual Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders, Harvard researchers discussed the role that fruits and vegetables may play in AD. Jae Hee Kang, Sc.D., and colleagues evaluated approximately 13,000 participants in the Nurses Health Study. They calculated the women's intake of fruits and vegetables between 1984 and 1995 and correlated these values with performance on tests of cognitive function conducted between 1995 and 2003, when the women were in their 70s. Women with the highest consumption of green leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables—both high in folate and antioxidants such as carotenoids and vitamin C—declined less than women who ate little of these vegetables.13

Increased homocysteine levels appear to be an independent risk factor for AD, in addition to being a risk factor for CNS vascular disease (another common cause of dementia).14,15 Although inherited forms exist, acquired hyperhomocysteinemia is usually the result of low levels of vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and folate, which are necessary for its metabolism. Good sources of folate include legumes, orange juice, asparagus, walnuts, and green leafy vegetables, such as spinach. Sources of B6 include whole grains, soy foods, peanuts, walnuts, bananas, and avocados. B12 is usually found in animal products; however, healthier alternatives include fortified cereals and soymilks or a multivitamin supplement.

Limiting total energy intake may also be of benefit. For example, certain populations in China and Japan have low average daily caloric intakes (1,600 to 2,000 cal/day) and lower incidence of AD compared to people in the United States and Western Europe (typically greater than 2,000 cal/day).16 A 2002 study of elderly Americans followed for a mean of four years found that, compared to those consuming the fewest calories, those consuming the most had an increased risk for AD.17