Overview
- The peer-reviewed JAMA Network Open study followed 2,157 Swedish adults aged 60 or older without dementia for up to 15 years in the SNAC-K cohort.
- Reduced dementia risk and slower cognitive decline appeared only in people with APOE 3/4 or 4/4 genotypes who were in the top fifth of meat consumers, with a median intake near 870 grams per week standardized to 2,000 calories.
- A lower proportion of processed meat in total intake was linked to lower dementia risk across all genotypes, while higher unprocessed meat consumption correlated with reduced all-cause mortality in APOE4 carriers.
- Researchers reported parallel signals in biomarkers for APOE4 carriers with higher meat intake, including more favorable cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin, and a proxy for vitamin B12 absorption.
- Authors emphasize the observational design and self-reported diet measures, framing the findings as a basis for precision-nutrition studies tailored to APOE genotype.