Fewer than one in 10 older adults experience healthy aging at age 70 years
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, March 24, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Higher adherence to plant-based diets is associated with improved physical and mental health in older age, according to a study published online March 24 in Nature Medicine.
Anne-Julie Tessier, Ph.D., from Harvard University in Boston, and colleagues used data from the Nurses’ Health Study (1986 to 2016) and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (1986 to 2016) to examine the association of long-term adherence to eight dietary patterns and ultraprocessed food consumption with healthy aging, as measured by cognitive, physical, and mental health, and living to age 70 years without chronic diseases. The analysis included 105,015 participants.
The researchers found that after 30 years of follow-up, 9.3 percent of participants achieved healthy aging. Higher adherence to each dietary pattern was associated with greater odds of healthy aging and its domains. For higher adherence to a healthful plant-based diet and the Alternative Healthy Eating Index, odds of healthy aging were increased (highest versus lowest quintile: odds ratios, 1.45 and 1.86, respectively). When examining healthy aging at age 75 years, the Alternative Healthy Eating Index diet showed the strongest association with healthy aging (odds ratio, 2.24). Lower odds of healthy aging were seen with higher intakes of trans fats, sodium, sugary beverages, and red or processed meats.
“Our findings suggest that dietary patterns rich in plant-based foods, with moderate inclusion of healthy animal-based foods, may enhance overall healthy aging, guiding future dietary guidelines,” the authors write.
One author disclosed ties to the International Nut Council.
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