The Planetary Health Diet promotes a diet centred on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts, while reducing consumption of animal-based foods (such as meat), restricting dairy products to one serving a day, and limiting added sugars. This approach not only helps protect the environment, but may also promote healthier aging.
A study led by the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid — with the participation of researchers from CIBERESP, IMDEA Nutrition, the National Center for Epidemiology, and Harvard University — has analyzed for the first time the extent to which adherence to this dietary pattern is related to the functional capacity of older adults.
The researchers used data from two Spanish population cohorts, which included nearly 3,000 adults aged 60 and older. Based on each participant's dietary habits, an index of adherence to the Planetary Health Diet was calculated, and their intrinsic capacity was assessed. This is a WHO concept that integrates a person's physical and mental functions in six areas: cognition, psychological state, vitality, hearing, vision, and locomotion.
During a mean follow-up of 2.6 years, 32% of participants' intrinsic capacity worsened, 27% improved, and 40% remained stable,” said Mercedes Sotos Prieto, director of the study and researcher at the UAM.
Improvements in intrinsic capacity
When comparing different levels of adherence, those in the group with the highest dietary pattern score were 36% more likely to see their intrinsic ability improve versus worsen, compared to those who adhered to the diet the least. The benefit was especially notable in hearing.
The analysis also showed that higher nut consumption and moderate consumption of starchy vegetables (such as potatoes) were independently associated with improved intrinsic capacity outcomes.
The results, published in the journal Age and Ageing, suggest that not only the overall dietary pattern, but also specific food groups, can contribute to maintaining autonomy, mobility, and mental health in old age.
This is one of the first studies to examine the relationship between the Planetary Health Diet and healthy aging in a comprehensive manner. "Our results support the idea that a more plant-based diet not only benefits the planet, but also the quality of life of older adults," concludes Mercedes Gómez Cao, the first author of the paper and a researcher at the UAM.
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