Here’s one good reason to cook with extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO): It may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

That’s according to the findings of a 2017 study published in Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. It showed that EVOO, a key component of the Mediterranean diet, helps protect against memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease.

The study focused on olive oil consumption in mice. The researchers found that mice fed an olive oil-rich diet performed better during tests assessing their memory recall and learning abilities than mice fed a different diet.

EVOO may protect your brain against Alzheimer’s

EVOO has already earned an impressive reputation. Numerous studies showing the benefits of the Mediterranean diet point to EVOO as one of the diet’s likely brain- and heart-health boosters. EVOO has the potential to improve the elasticity of blood vessels and prevent age-related cognitive decline. Previous animal studies have also reported that EVOO can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

The latest study went a step further and looked at whether an EVOO-enriched diet could prevent Alzheimer-related proteins from accumulating in the brain. In a healthy brain, these proteins — known as tau proteins — help with the transportation of nutrients that your brain cells need.

However, in Alzheimer’s disease, tau proteins get tangled up inside brain cells, unable to deliver nutrients. This causes brain cells to die. Tau protein buildup is common in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, including those with frontotemporal dementia.

In the study, the researchers genetically modified mice to have the three major characteristics of Alzheimer’s: memory impairment, the buildup of amyloid plaques and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles.

Neurofibrillary tangles are twisted strands of tau proteins, while amyloid plaques occur due to the buildup of beta-amyloid, a fragment of a protein called amyloid precursor protein. In Alzheimer’s disease, beta-amyloid accumulates in the spaces between brain cells.

The mice were split into two groups: One group was fed a chow diet with EVOO and the other group was fed a regular chow diet without the oil. The researchers added the oil to the first group’s diet when the mice were only six months old, long before any hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease appeared. They then studied the mice’s cognitive abilities through tests for spatial and working memory, as well as learning skills.

In terms of general appearance, the two groups of mice didn’t differ after months on their assigned diets. The real effect of EVOO was seen in the inner workings of the mice’s brains.

Mice fed the EVOO-enriched diet were tested at nine and 12 months. In both instances, these mice did better at all three cognitive tests than those who weren’t given EVOO. In addition, the EVOO-treated mice’s synapses were better preserved than those of the other group. To clarify, synapses refer to the small gaps between brain cells called neurons. They allow neurons to communicate with each other.

The researchers also found that mice fed the EVOO-enriched diet showed a decrease in amyloid plaque and tau buildup. Overall, the findings strongly suggest that EVOO may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Further studies are needed to determine whether EVOO would have the same protective effects on humans.

Other impressive benefits of EVOO

Olive oil is a multipurpose oil sourced from olives, the fruits of the olive tree. Olive trees are grown across the Mediterranean region, which is why olive oil is a staple ingredient there.

Olives can be pressed to extract their oil. Today, modern methods involve crushing and mixing the olives and separating the oil from the pulp in a centrifuge.

There are three main grades of olive oil: refined, virgin and extra-virgin. EVOO is the least processed of these, which is why it is considered the healthiest type of olive oil. Olive oil that is truly virgin is loaded with antioxidants. It is also rich in healthy unsaturated fats, which are important for healthy heart maintenance.

Aside from possibly preventing Alzheimer’s disease, here are the other health benefits of EVOO:

• Helps reduce inflammation – Oleic acid, a fatty acid in olive oil, is believed to reduce inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein. Olive oil also contains an antioxidant called oleocanthal, which has been shown to work like ibuprofen, a popular anti-inflammatory drug.
• Supports healthy cardiovascular function – EVOO supports cardiovascular health in many ways. For instance, it protects “bad” cholesterol from oxidative damage, which could lead to heart disease. EVOO also keeps your blood vessels healthy and helps maintain healthy blood pressure.
• May prevent cancer – EVOO is high in antioxidants, which protect your cells from oxidative damage. Oxidative damage is a contributor to cancer, which is why EVOO is thought to help prevent cancer.

EVOO is an extremely healthy ingredient associated with many benefits, such as better cardiovascular health, lower levels of inflammation and protection against chronic conditions like Alzheimer’s and cancer. Incorporate it into your daily routine by using it in place of vegetable oil or by adding it to your salads, sauces and pasta dishes.

Sources:

MedicalNewsToday.com

Healthline.com