The Theoretical Intersection of Plant-Based Diets, Alzheimer’s, and Cardiovascular Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are significant health concerns for older adults globally. Plant-based diets (PBDs) are a potential non-invasive lifestyle strategy to address the risk factors common to both conditions. Research on plant-based diets and older adults is limited, especially when it comes to the overlap between the development of CVD and AD. This theoretical paper examines the relationships between PBDs, AD, and CVD through the integration of six theories and concepts: the vascular hypothesis, microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) theory, neurovascular unit (NVU) theory, antioxidant theory, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and mitochondrial dysfunction. By integrating these theories and concepts, a comprehensive model is provided for understanding how plant-based diets may mitigate both AD and CVD through shared pathophysiological pathways.