Adding a small amount of olive oil to your daily diet may help reduce dementia risk.

A new study analyzed data from more than 92,000 participants over 28 years. The participants were asked about their dietary patterns and olive oil consumption every four years. Those who consumed more than seven grams (about half a tablespoon) of olive oil a day were 28% less likely to die from dementia compared to those who rarely or never consumed it.

However, this is an observational study that can identify associations but cannot determine cause and effect. In other words, it’s unclear if olive oil itself directly reduces the risk of dementia-related death or if other lifestyle factors are at play.

“This study looked at people’s health records, death records, diet, and food frequency questionnaires to try to identify possible connections between specific food intake and risk of dementia-related death,” Stefana Forner, PhD, director of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer’s Association, told Verywell. 

“It is not an intervention study where some people ate olive oil, and some didn’t, which is the gold standard for the way a treatment clinical trial is conducted,” Forner added.

While you can’t count on a spoonful of olive oil to reduce your risk for dementia-related mortality, including it in your diet pattern can offer health benefits that support cognitive health. 

“We’ve known for a long time that olive oil and other sources of unsaturated fat are important for aspects of cardiovascular health, including lowering cholesterol levels, lowering blood pressure, and reducing the risk of heart disease,” Leah Barron, RD, LD, CPT, a dietitian at The Baseline Lifestyle Co., told Verywell. 

The relationship between heart and brain health is well-established.A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that people with higher heart disease risk scores had worse cognitive function than those with lower risk, suggesting that what’s good for the heart is also good for the brain.

Experts say it’s important to focus on the big picture of your dietary habits instead of relying on one “magic bullet” like a daily spoonful of olive oil for brain health.

“Eating an overall heart-healthy diet may contribute to decreasing one’s risk for cognitive decline and dementia,” Forner said. “However, there isn’t a single food or ingredient that, through rigorous scientific research, has been shown to prevent, treat, or cure Alzheimer’s or other dementia.”