A healthy diet can lower depression risk in older adults, despite genetics
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Deakin research has revealed that older adults can reduce their risk of depression by eating a healthy diet and that the benefits were evident regardless of a genetic predisposition to depression or existing low-grade inflammation.
The study from Deakin's Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, published in Molecular Psychiatry, showed adults 70 and older can benefit from reducing ultraprocessed food (UPF) intake and can further reduce depression risk with an anti-inflammatory diet.
Lead author and Ph.D. candidate Belayneh Mengist Miteku said the findings suggest the potential protective role of a high-quality diet may be broadly applicable across diverse biological risk profiles in older adults.
"We know healthy aging is a real issue right now, as people live longer and face increasing health challenges."
"Preventing late-life depression not only means a better quality of life for the individual but also has a positive ripple effect on loved ones, their community and the broader health system," said Miteku, a graduate researcher.
What did the study show?
The study, undertaken in collaboration with Monash University and international partners, followed 7,220 adults 70 or older for a median of 5.7 years and found two related associations:
- People consuming high amounts of UPFs—defined as four or more servings per day—had a 12% higher rate of depressive symptoms than those consuming fewer than four servings per day.
- People whose diets were more anti-inflammatory had a 7% lower rate of depressive symptoms than those with more pro-inflammatory diets.
What are UPFs?
UPFs are the most processed food group, typically characterized by high energy content and poor nutritional profiles. They include mass-produced, highly refined products, sugar-sweetened beverages and packaged or ready-made meals.
An anti-inflammatory dietary pattern emphasizes a high intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish and olive oil.
The findings build on a 2025 study that considered participants' genetic predisposition and inflammation status.
"There is a lot we don't understand about the biological mechanisms at play between diet quality and its influence on late-life depression, particularly when we take the overall impact of aging into account," Miteku said.
"Now, however, not only do we have further evidence that UPFs impact mental health, but we can see that people can gain real benefits from improving their diet."
Senior author Mohammadreza Mohebbi, an associate professor, said, "These findings highlight the importance of integrating dietary habits into psychiatric prevention and care for older adults, given that diet is a modifiable lifestyle factor that can be addressed at both individual and population levels.
"They may also provide valuable insights for developing dietary guidelines in mental health care, healthy aging initiatives and public health policies."
Publication details
Belayneh Mengist et al., Diet quality and depressive symptoms in older adults, assessing the effect modification by genetic predisposition and low-grade inflammation: a target trial emulation, Molecular Psychiatry (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41380-026-03762-6
Journal information: Molecular Psychiatry
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PsychiatryPsychology & Mental healthNutrition & Healthy eatingHealthy livingHealthy aging Provided by Deakin University Who's behind this story?
Swati Mestri
Swati Mestri holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering and has worked as a content editor since 2019. She has experience editing research documents across technology, health care, and materials science, and has a particular interest in technology and space. Full profile →
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