Ten diets linked to slower biological aging in adults, study finds

A recent German study published in Nature Communications indicates that adhering to any of ten healthy diets is associated with slower biological aging, which may reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Biological aging refers to the rate at which a person's body functions deteriorate, distinct from their chronological age. The study, led by researchers from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), analyzed 6,470 adults aged 30 and above, comparing their adherence to ten well-known dietary patterns with specific biomarkers that reflect biological age.

Epidemiologist Monique Breteler noted that while the effects may not be drastic, they are measurable and important for disease prevention. She added that the results show various diets are linked to slower aging, allowing individuals to choose a diet that suits their personal, cultural, financial, and taste preferences. The researchers focused on diets such as the Mediterranean, Nordic, DASH, and MIND diets, along with the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI-2010), Plant-based Diet Index (PDI), Healthy Plant-based Diet Index (hPDI), Unhealthy Plant-based Diet Index (uPDI), and Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII).

By examining DNA methylation patterns through "epigenetic clocks," the researchers found that most participants did not meet high scores across all dietary guidelines, but following even one healthy diet was enough to reduce the risk of biological age surpassing chronological age. While each diet affected different aspects of biological aging, there was significant overlap among them, including pathways related to cell structure, cell signaling, and metabolism, which are fundamental to aging and chronic disease.

Epidemiologist Juliana Tavares concluded that a perfect diet is not necessary, and that the shared pathways across various diets could lead to more targeted nutritional interventions for personalized health recommendations in the future.