A recent study from the Karolinska Institutet, published in Nature Aging, has found that a healthy diet can slow the build-up of chronic diseases in older adults. In contrast, diets high in inflammatory foods may hasten it. The research sheds light on the long-term impact of dietary patterns, showing that food choices can meaningfully influence health outcomes in ageing populations.
The study examined the effects of four distinct dietary patterns on the progression of chronic illness in later life. Three of these diets were categorised as healthy, emphasising regular consumption of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and unsaturated fats, while limiting sweets, red meat, processed meat, and butter or margarine. The fourth, a pro-inflammatory diet, focused more heavily on red and processed meats, refined grains, and sugar-sweetened beverages, with lower consumption of vegetables, tea, and coffee.
More than 2,400 older adults in Sweden were followed over 15 years. Researchers observed that participants adhering to the healthy dietary patterns developed chronic diseases at a slower rate. The protective effect was particularly evident in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia, though no significant effect was found for conditions affecting muscles and bones. Conversely, those whose eating habits aligned with the pro-inflammatory diet faced a heightened risk of developing multiple chronic illnesses.
“Our results show how important diet is in influencing the development of multimorbidity in ageing populations,” explained Adrián Carballo-Casla, co-first author and postdoctoral researcher at the Aging Research Centre, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society at Karolinska Institutet. His comments underscore the potential for diet to act as a preventative measure against the clustering of multiple diseases in older age.
The findings contribute to a growing body of evidence supporting the role of nutrition in healthy ageing. They highlight how food not only affects individual diseases but also the broader trajectory of overall health and resilience in later life. This is particularly relevant in the context of multimorbidity, where the simultaneous presence of several chronic conditions can complicate treatment and reduce quality of life.
Looking ahead, the research team plans to pinpoint the most effective dietary recommendations for promoting longevity. They also aim to identify which subgroups of older adults—distinguished by age, gender, psychosocial background, or existing health conditions—stand to benefit the most from tailored nutritional guidance. By refining these recommendations, the hope is to create more targeted interventions that can extend healthy life expectancy and ease the burden of chronic disease in an ageing society.
More information: David Abbad-Gomez et al, Dietary patterns and accelerated multimorbidity in older adults, Nature Aging. DOI: 10.1038/s43587-025-00929-8
Journal information: Nature Aging Provided by Karolinska Institutet
