For mild cognitive impairment, early memory changes without loss of independence, a Mediterranean-like diet may be recommended to reduce risk. What is still being studied is whether diet alone prevents dementia in this group. The World Health Organization released updated risk-reduction guidelines on 15 July 2026 that update its 2019 guidelines. The agency says up to 45% of dementia risk could be prevented or delayed through modifiable risks, according to the World Health Organization announcement.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Official resources:
- Read the official guidance from Who — Use this primary source to verify the official guidance.
- Read the official guidance from Who — Use this primary source to verify the official guidance.
Table of Contents
- Who is this diet advice for?
- Which eating pattern is established?
- Should you take vitamins to protect memory?
- What remains under study and what can you do?
Who is this diet advice for?
The advice targets adults with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment. It does not replace treatment for dementia after diagnosis. Diet sits within a broader risk-reduction group, described in the United Nations News report.
That group pairs healthy diet with physical activity, stopping tobacco, using less alcohol, and reducing air-pollution exposure. For readers with mild cognitive impairment, food is one part of a vascular and lifestyle plan. Blood pressure, blood sugar, and daily habits matter alongside meals.
Which eating pattern is established?
The established pattern is a Mediterranean-like diet. WHO retains that it may be recommended to adults with normal cognition and mild cognitive impairment to reduce cognitive decline and dementia risk, as stated in the WHO guideline document. WHO also establishes a second food rule.
All adults should follow a healthy balanced diet based on general healthy-diet principles, News-Medical reporting on the guidelines notes, not a dementia-only diet. In practice, Mediterranean-like means culturally adaptable meals built around plant foods and modest fat. It favors varied staples, vegetables, fruit, and legumes over heavy fats, sugar, and salt.
Should you take vitamins to protect memory?
WHO advises people without diagnosed deficiency not to take vitamin B, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, or multivitamins and minerals solely to prevent dementia. The reason is lack of outweighing benefit, according to the World Health Organization announcement. That caution also reflects possible harm from unnecessary supplements.
Food, activity, and vascular care carry the expected benefit. If a clinician has diagnosed anemia, low B12, vitamin D deficiency, or another deficiency, follow that treatment plan. The WHO caution concerns prevention use without deficiency, not prescribed correction of a deficiency.
What remains under study and what can you do?
The Mediterranean recommendation is conditional and based on moderate-quality evidence, largely observational. MedicalNewsToday coverage of the update explains that this supports lower risk rather than proving diet alone prevents dementia in mild cognitive impairment.
So treat diet as risk reduction, not a guarantee. Benefits likely work through long-term vascular, metabolic, and dietary patterns rather than one food. A practical approach for mild cognitive impairment combines adaptable Mediterranean habits with control of hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity, as WHO healthy-diet guidance suggests: Bring a recent food routine plus blood pressure and blood sugar records to the next visit.
- Build meals from varied staples, vegetables, fruit, and legumes
- Limit added fats, sugary foods and drinks, and salty foods
- Keep blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and weight in the care plan
- Review tobacco use, alcohol use, activity, and air-pollution exposure with a clinician
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