A recent study published in Nutritional neuroscience A study has shown that greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet is linked to a reduced risk of cognitive decline in older adults. Conducted over a three-year period, the study highlights that this association is particularly significant for women aged 65 and over. These findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that diet may play a crucial role in maintaining cognitive health.
The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and olive oil, moderate consumption of fish and poultry and low consumption of dairy products, red meat and sweets. This diet is known for its richness in antioxidants, which helps fight oxidative stress, a harmful process that can lead to brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
The researchers conducted this study to determine whether the Mediterranean diet could help prevent cognitive decline in older adults. With dementia on the rise worldwide and no effective medications to prevent or treat it, it is essential to study modifiable lifestyle factors such as diet.
Previous studies have shown mixed results regarding the impact of the Mediterranean diet on cognitive health, with some suggesting significant benefits while others found no effect. This study aimed to provide more definitive answers by focusing on a rural Chinese population, a group that has not been studied extensively in this setting.
The study was conducted in Gansu Province, China, from January 2019 to March 2022. The researchers used a multistage stratified sampling technique to select participants from various administrative divisions, including prefectures, counties, townships, and villages. Participants had to be over 60 years old, have lived in a village for more than a year, and be cognitively normal at the start of the study. They excluded people with a history of stroke, serious psychiatric disorders, or major organ dysfunction.
At baseline, 3,241 people were assessed, but only 2,313 who met all criteria were included in the study. After three years, 1,648 participants completed follow-up assessments. The study included face-to-face interviews to collect information on participants’ demographic characteristics, lifestyle, medical history, and psychological factors.
Cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination, a widely used test that assesses various cognitive abilities, including memory, attention, and language skills. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener, which asks questions about dietary habits related to the main components of the diet.
Over the three-year follow-up, 23.8% of participants experienced cognitive decline. The study found that those who adhered most to the Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of cognitive decline. Specifically, 20.6% of participants who adhered poorly to the diet experienced cognitive decline, compared with 20.4% of those who adhered strongly to the diet. This difference, although small, was statistically significant.
Further analysis showed that the protective effect of the Mediterranean diet was particularly pronounced in women aged 65 and over. In this group, greater adherence to the diet was associated with a significantly lower risk of cognitive decline.
The study also looked at which components of the Mediterranean diet were most closely linked to cognitive health. It found that higher intakes of beans, fish, and vegetables cooked with tomato-based sauces were particularly protective against cognitive decline. These foods are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances, which can help protect the brain from damage.
The study does have some limitations, however. The researchers only measured diet adherence at the start of the study and did not account for changes over time. Additionally, the study focused on a rural Chinese population, which may limit the generalizability of the results to other groups. Future research should include longer follow-up periods and multiple measures of diet adherence to better understand how dietary habits affect cognitive health over time.
The study, “Mediterranean diet related to 3-year incidence of cognitive decline: results from a cohort study among rural Chinese elderly,” was authored by Yuping Feng, Jiancheng Wang, Rong Zhang, Yunhua Wang, Jing Wang, Hongyan Meng, Hu Cheng, and Juxia Zhang.
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