Healthy Diet Slows Chronic Disease Progression, Swedish Study Reveals

A major study by Karolinska Institutet, published in Nature Aging, highlights how diet influences the buildup of chronic diseases with age. Researchers tracked over 2,400 Swedish adults for 15 years, assessing four diets: MIND, AHEI, AMED (healthy patterns), and EDII (pro-inflammatory).

Participants following healthy diets, rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and unsaturated fats while limiting sweets, red meat, and processed foods, showed a slower accumulation of chronic conditions, particularly cardiovascular disease and dementia. However, these diets had little effect on muscle and bone disorders.

Conversely, individuals consuming pro-inflammatory diets high in red and processed meat, refined grains, and sugary drinks faced an increased risk of chronic illnesses.

Future research will refine dietary guidelines to maximize longevity benefits and determine which groups of older adults gain the most, based on age, gender, psychosocial factors, and preexisting health conditions.

15-09-2025