Extra virgin olive oil may protect against multiple types of dementia

USA: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), due to the presence of monosaturated fatty acids or good fats, is known for its ability to lower cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease. Now, a recent study published in the journal Aging Cell has implicated its role in the prevention of multiple types of dementia.

According to the study conducted on mice, the consumption of EVOO rich diet can protect against multiple types of dementia by preventing toxic accumulation of the protein tau.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies are the neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the presence of phosphorylated and misfolded forms of the microtubule‐associated tau protein. the protein accumulates as neurofibrillary or gliofibrillary tangles in the human brain. The mechanism leading to the accumulation of the tau protein is not fully understood and no therapy is available till now to cure or stop the accumulation. Memory loss and cognitive impairment are common symptoms of all these diseases.

Several recent studies have demonstrated EVOO to have neuroprotective and cognitive benefits. For instance, a 2012 study in mice found that the oil improves rodents' learning and performance in memory tests. This is because EVOO is rich in polyphenols -- powerful antioxidant compounds that may reverse the disease or aging-related learning and memory impairment.

A study published in the Speciality Medical Dialogues on July 1, 2017, found that extra-virgin olive oil preserves memory protects the brain against Alzheimer’s.

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The present study by Domenico Praticò, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and colleagues investigated the effect of chronic supplementation of EVOO on the phenotype of a relevant mouse model of tauopathy, human transgenic tau mice (hTau).

For this purpose, the researches used a mouse model of tauopathy. They genetically tweaked the rodents so that they were prone to accumulate excessive amounts of the otherwise normal protein tau (hTau mice). Starting at 6 months of age, hTau mice were fed chow diet supplemented with EVOO or vehicle for an additional 6 months, and then the effect on their phenotype was assessed. Control mice were also prone to tau accumulations but consumed a regular diet.

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Key findings of the study include:

• At the end of the treatment, compared with control mice receiving EVOO displayed improved memory and cognition which was associated with increased basal synaptic activity and short‐term plasticity.


• This effect was accompanied by an upregulation of complexin 1, a key presynaptic protein. This is a "presynaptic" protein key for maintaining healthy synapses.


• Moreover, EVOO treatment resulted in a significant reduction of tau oligomers and phosphorylated tau at specific epitopes.

"Our findings demonstrate that EVOO directly improves synaptic activity, short‐term plasticity, and memory while decreasing tau neuropathology in the hTau mice," wrote the authors. "These results strengthen the healthy benefits of EVOO and further support the therapeutic potential of this natural product not only for AD but also for primary tauopathies."