Authors :
Jolanda Driessen
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 7 - July
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/4usc9735
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/4w6cdn9r
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jul151
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Is there a connection between the Western diet and Alzheimer's disease, from a few centuries ago to the present
day? The motivation for this research is to encourage the public to learn how to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease in
later life. The methodology employed in this study involved the use of both quantitative and qualitative data gathered from
secondary sources. The findings indicate that, as a consequence of the Industrial Revolution, the Western diet transformed
significantly, becoming more harmful and increasing the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, the shift from fresh,
minimally processed foods to diets high in saturated fats, refined sugars, and ultra-processed products has been associated
with increased neuroinflammation and tau protein accumulation — both of which are key biological markers of Alzheimer's
disease. When adhering to a wholesome diet such as the Mediterranean diet, the risk of Alzheimer's declines by up to 53%,
as reported by Martha Clare Morris (2015). Therefore, the acceleration of processed food consumption and the high
saturated fat content of the Western diet are contributing significantly to the prevalence of the disease.
Keywords :
Alzheimer’s Disease, Western Diet, Mediterranean Diet, Saturated Fat, Neuroinflammation, Tau Protein, Processed Food.
References :
- Infographic: Rate of Alzheimer’s cases in the U.S. has doubled since 2000. (2023, September 21). Statista Daily Data. https://www.statista.com/chart/30884/number-of-deaths-from-alzheimers-disease-per-100000-people-in-the-us/
- John Koren. (1904). Insane in hospitals (Bulletin or special report, Chapter 1). U.S. Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census. https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/04187196ch1.pdf
- BrightFocus Foundation. (n.d.). Alzheimer’s disease: Facts & figures. https://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/facts-figures/#:~:text=Age%20is%20the%20greatest%20risk,and%20older%20have%20Alzheimer's%20dementia
- Clemente-Suárez, V. J., Beltrán-Velasco, A. I., Redondo-Flórez, L., Martín-Rodríguez, A., & Tornero-Aguilera, J. F. (2023). Global impacts of Western diet and its effects on metabolism and health: A narrative review. Nutrients, 15(12), Article 2749. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15122749
- Ehrenfeld, T. (2022). Adopt a Mid-Victorian diet. You may live longer. Vital Choice. https://www.vitalchoice.com/articles/food-facts/eat-like-a-mid-victorian
- NIA Scientists. (2023). What Do We Know About Diet and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease? National Institute of Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-and-dementia/what-do-we-know-about-diet-and-prevention-alzheimers-disease
- Nichols, H. (2023). Western diet: How it affects health, risks, and complications. Medical and health information | MedicalNewsToday . https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/western-diet
- Cleveland Clinic. (2024, March 7). Mediterranean diet: Food list & meal plan. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16037-mediterranean-diet
- Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.). What is Alzheimer’s disease? https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers
- ScienceDirect. (n.d.). Western diet. Elsevier. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/western-diet
- Statista. (2025, September 19). Rate of Alzheimer’s cases in the U.S. has doubled since 2000 [Infographic]. https://www.statista.com/chart/30884/number-of-deaths-from-alzheimers-disease-per-100000-people-in-the-us/
- Grant, W. B., & Blake, S. M. (2023). Diet’s role in modifying risk of Alzheimer’s disease: History and present understanding. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 96(4), 1353–1382. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-230418
- Lee, J. H., D’Amico, D. J., & Lemaire, R. N. (2022). United States dietary trends since 1800: Lack of association between saturated fatty acid consumption and non-communicable diseases. Frontiers in Nutrition, 8, Article 748847. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.748847
Is there a connection between the Western diet and Alzheimer's disease, from a few centuries ago to the present
day? The motivation for this research is to encourage the public to learn how to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease in
later life. The methodology employed in this study involved the use of both quantitative and qualitative data gathered from
secondary sources. The findings indicate that, as a consequence of the Industrial Revolution, the Western diet transformed
significantly, becoming more harmful and increasing the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, the shift from fresh,
minimally processed foods to diets high in saturated fats, refined sugars, and ultra-processed products has been associated
with increased neuroinflammation and tau protein accumulation — both of which are key biological markers of Alzheimer's
disease. When adhering to a wholesome diet such as the Mediterranean diet, the risk of Alzheimer's declines by up to 53%,
as reported by Martha Clare Morris (2015). Therefore, the acceleration of processed food consumption and the high
saturated fat content of the Western diet are contributing significantly to the prevalence of the disease.
Keywords :
Alzheimer’s Disease, Western Diet, Mediterranean Diet, Saturated Fat, Neuroinflammation, Tau Protein, Processed Food.
