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Higher EAT-Lancet diet adherence linked to lower risks of depression, anxiety, stroke, and dementia in observational cohortsEating healthy plant foods may lower risk of depression, anxiety, stroke, and dementia in older adults

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Key Takeaway
Consider cautious interpretation of observational links between EAT-Lancet diet adherence and reduced neuropsychiatric disease risk.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the relationship between adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet and the risk of neuropsychiatric disorders. Data were drawn from a collection of cohort and cross-sectional studies involving diverse populations. The analysis focused on conditions including depression, anxiety, stroke, and dementia, alongside global cognitive function.

The authors observed that higher adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet was associated with lower risks for depression, anxiety, stroke, and dementia. However, no significant association was observed for global cognitive function. These results suggest a potential protective role for this dietary pattern against specific neuropsychiatric outcomes.

The study highlights several limitations, including low certainty of evidence for anxiety, depression, and cognition, as well as low certainty for stroke and dementia. The authors explicitly state that findings should be interpreted cautiously. They emphasize that further large prospective studies and randomized controlled trials are warranted to improve evidence quality and clarify the potential role of the EAT-Lancet diet in disease prevention.

Researchers looked at data from many different studies involving people of all ages. They found that people who ate more plants and fewer processed foods had lower risks for several serious health problems. Specifically, those who followed this healthy eating pattern were about twenty-four percent less likely to develop depression and about eighteen percent less likely to feel anxious.

The same healthy diet was also connected to a lower chance of having a stroke. For dementia, the link was weaker but still showed a trend toward better brain health. However, the study did not find a clear connection between this diet and overall memory or thinking skills.

Experts warn that the evidence is not very strong yet. Because most studies just watched people over time, we cannot be sure the diet caused the better health. Larger, longer studies are needed to confirm these findings and help doctors give better advice.

What this means for you:
Eating more plants may lower risks for mental health issues and stroke, but more research is needed to be sure.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedJun 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
Neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs) are a leading cause of disability worldwide. The predominantly plant-based EAT-Lancet diet has been proposed to confer neuropsychiatric benefits, yet evidence remains limited. This study synthesized associations between adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet and neuropsychiatric outcomes. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global through September 4, 2025. Observational studies reporting associations between EAT-Lancet adherence and NPDs were included. Binary outcomes were pooled as hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs), and continuous outcomes as regression coefficients (β). Subgroup, sensitivity, and publication-bias analyses were performed. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework (GRADE). Twenty-two cohort and six cross-sectional studies were included. Higher adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet was associated with lower risks of depression (OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.71-0.81), anxiety (OR 0.82; 0.76-0.89), stroke (HR 0.84; 0.76-0.92), and dementia (HR 0.96; 0.93-1.00), whereas no significant association was observed for global cognitive function (β 0.02; -0.01 to 0.06). Sensitivity analyses supported robustness. Certainty of evidence was very low for anxiety, depression, and cognition, and low for stroke and dementia. Greater adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet was associated with lower risks of depression, anxiety, stroke, and dementia. However, given the low certainty of evidence, findings should be interpreted cautiously. Further large prospective studies and randomized controlled trials are warranted to improve evidence quality and clarify the potential role of the EAT-Lancet diet in neuropsychiatric disease prevention.
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