Western diets are considered to be part of Alzheimer's disease.
The stark warning comes from scientists who have also discovered that a more “Mediterranean” diet – of fruit, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy products, legumes and fish – is associated with a significantly reduced risk.
They also found that diets with even lower meat content – like those found in India, Japan, and Nigeria – reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s even further.
Dr William Grant said: “Reducing meat consumption could significantly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease as well as several cancers, Type 2 diabetes, stroke and chronic kidney disease.”
Speaking from the Sunlight, Nutrition and Health Research Centre in San Francisco, he added: “Mounting evidence from ecological and observational studies, indicates that the Western dietary pattern – especially the large amount of meat – is strongly associated with risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic diseases.
“While the traditional Mediterranean diet is associated with about half the risk for Alzheimer’s disease of the Western diet, the traditional diets of countries such as India, Japan, and Nigeria, with very low meat consumption, are associated with an additional 50 per cent reduction in risk of Alzheimer’s.”
In the UK, one person is diagnosed with dementia – caused by such diseases as Alzheimer’s – every three minutes, with the condition costing the economy £23billion every year.
It is the only cause of death still on the rise with 850,000 Britons now suffering from dementia. That figure is estimated to reach one million by 2025.
There are also currently 40,000 people with early onset dementia under the age of 65. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the condition is now the leading cause of death for women in England and Wales.
Last night research bodies involved with tackling the disease in the UK welcomed the new study, but said much more research was still needed into why certain foods seemed to lead to cognitive decline.
Dr Simon Ridley, director of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “While studies of national diets and rates of Alzheimer’s can help to identify trends at a population level, more controlled studies are needed to provide definitive evidence of a link between particular foods and risk of the disease.
“Previous research has linked diets rich in fruit and vegetables, nuts, and fish to better cognitive health, but research is showing that other lifestyle factors such as physical activity, smoking and alcohol intake can also influence a person’s risk of Alzheimer’s.
“Age is the biggest risk factor in the majority of cases of Alzheimer’s, followed by genetics and a variety of lifestyle factors, of which diet is just one.
“Alongside a healthy balanced diet, not smoking, staying mentally and physically active, drinking in moderation and keeping blood pressure in check can all help to keep our brains healthy as we age.”
Last year the Government announced that Britain is to lead the world in trying to find a cure for dementia, creating a new £150million research institute focusing specifically on the disease. The latest research was published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
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