Eat Well, Age Well: New Study Links Mediterranean Diet to Long-Term Heart Health in Older Adults

LIH-led research finds that sustained diet quality lowers blood pressure and supports healthy aging over nearly a decade

• NutriHealth
• Department of Precision Health

A new international study by the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) and the Western University in Canada shows that long-term adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet is linked to lower blood pressure and better heart health in adults aged 45 to 85.

The study, “Longitudinal Effects of Diet Quality on Healthy Aging – Focus on Cardiometabolic Health: Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)”, used advanced statistical models to track how dietary habits and health markers changed over time. It found that participants who maintained a consistent, Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats experienced sustained reductions in blood pressure, a key risk factor for heart disease and other age-related conditions.

“These findings go beyond short-term interventions,” said Dr. Farhad Vahid, Postdoctoral Fellow in the NutriHealth Group at the LIH and lead author of the study. “They show that consistency in eating habits, especially diets rooted in whole, plant-based foods, can yield meaningful health benefits as we age.” According to the authors, the key takeaway is that it is not just about improving one’s diet—it is about sustaining that improvement. Consistency over time is key when it comes to heart health.

Dr. Torsten Bohn, head of the NutriHealth Group in the Department of Precision Health (DoPH) at the LIH, praised the study as a model of transatlantic research success: “This work not only strengthens Luxembourg’s position in precision nutrition and healthy aging research but also sets the stage for future global collaborations in public health.”

The findings will also be presented by Dr. Vahid at the International Congress of Nutrition in Paris in August, further underscoring the relevance and scientific merit of the work.

This study was made possible through the INTER/MOBILITY Nutri-Aging grant from the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), which supported Dr. Vahid’s research exchange program at Western University. It also highlights the critical role of international collaboration, particularly the expertise of Prof Piotr Wilk in advanced biostatistics and the strategic guidance of Prof Saverio Stranges.