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Mediterranean diet and risk for dementia and cognitive decline in a Mediterranean population.
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2021 06; 69(6):1548-1559.JA

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Current evidence suggests that nutrition in general and specific dietary patterns in particular, such as the Mediterranean type diet (MeDi), can be employed as potential preventive strategies against the development of dementia and cognitive decline. However, longitudinal data exploring the applicability of these findings in populations of Mediterranean origin are limited. The aim of the present study was to explore the potential relationships of MeDi adherence with dementia incidence rates and cognitive change over time in a traditional Mediterranean population, characterized by a lifelong exposure to Mediterranean eating habits and lifestyle.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 1046 non-demented individuals over the age of 64 (mean age = 73.1; SD = 5.0), with available baseline dietary information and longitudinal follow-up. Diagnosis of dementia was made by a full clinical and neuropsychological evaluation, while cognitive performance was assessed according to five cognitive domains (memory, language, attention-speed, executive functioning, visuospatial perception) and a global cognitive score. Adherence to MeDi was evaluated by an a priori score (range 0-55), derived from a detailed food frequency questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 62 incident dementia cases occurred during a mean (SD) of 3.1 (0.9) years of follow-up. Individuals in the highest MeDi quartile (highest adherence to MeDi) had a 72% lower risk for development of dementia, compared to those in the lowest one (p = 0.013). In addition, analysis of cognitive performance as a function of MeDi score revealed that the biennial cognitive benefit of a 10-unit increase in MeDi score offsets the cognitive decline associated with 1 year of cognitive aging.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, higher adherence to MeDi was associated with a reduced risk for dementia and cognitive decline in a traditional Mediterranean population.

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Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Charisis S
1st Department of Neurology, Aiginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
Ntanasi E
1st Department of Neurology, Aiginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Yannakoulia M
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Anastasiou CA
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Kosmidis MH
Lab of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Dardiotis E
School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
Hadjigeorgiou G
Department of Neurology, Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Sakka P
Athens Association of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, Athens, Greece.
Scarmeas N
1st Department of Neurology, Aiginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. Taub Institute for Research in Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, the Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.

MeSH

AgedCognitive DysfunctionDementiaDiet, MediterraneanFemaleGreeceHumansMaleNeuropsychological TestsRisk Factors

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

33724444

Citation

Charisis, Sokratis, et al. "Mediterranean Diet and Risk for Dementia and Cognitive Decline in a Mediterranean Population." Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, vol. 69, no. 6, 2021, pp. 1548-1559.
Charisis S, Ntanasi E, Yannakoulia M, et al. Mediterranean diet and risk for dementia and cognitive decline in a Mediterranean population. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2021;69(6):1548-1559.
Charisis, S., Ntanasi, E., Yannakoulia, M., Anastasiou, C. A., Kosmidis, M. H., Dardiotis, E., Hadjigeorgiou, G., Sakka, P., & Scarmeas, N. (2021). Mediterranean diet and risk for dementia and cognitive decline in a Mediterranean population. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 69(6), 1548-1559. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.17072
Charisis S, et al. Mediterranean Diet and Risk for Dementia and Cognitive Decline in a Mediterranean Population. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2021;69(6):1548-1559. PubMed PMID: 33724444.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Mediterranean diet and risk for dementia and cognitive decline in a Mediterranean population. AU - Charisis,Sokratis, AU - Ntanasi,Eva, AU - Yannakoulia,Mary, AU - Anastasiou,Costas A, AU - Kosmidis,Mary H, AU - Dardiotis,Efthimios, AU - Hadjigeorgiou,Georgios, AU - Sakka,Paraskevi, AU - Scarmeas,Nikolaos, Y1 - 2021/03/16/ PY - 2021/01/22/revised PY - 2020/11/21/received PY - 2021/01/29/accepted PY - 2021/3/17/pubmed PY - 2021/10/7/medline PY - 2021/3/16/entrez KW - Alzheimer's disease KW - Mediterranean diet KW - aging KW - cognitive decline KW - dementia SP - 1548 EP - 1559 JF - Journal of the American Geriatrics Society JO - J Am Geriatr Soc VL - 69 IS - 6 N2 - BACKGROUND: Current evidence suggests that nutrition in general and specific dietary patterns in particular, such as the Mediterranean type diet (MeDi), can be employed as potential preventive strategies against the development of dementia and cognitive decline. However, longitudinal data exploring the applicability of these findings in populations of Mediterranean origin are limited. The aim of the present study was to explore the potential relationships of MeDi adherence with dementia incidence rates and cognitive change over time in a traditional Mediterranean population, characterized by a lifelong exposure to Mediterranean eating habits and lifestyle. METHODS: The sample consisted of 1046 non-demented individuals over the age of 64 (mean age = 73.1; SD = 5.0), with available baseline dietary information and longitudinal follow-up. Diagnosis of dementia was made by a full clinical and neuropsychological evaluation, while cognitive performance was assessed according to five cognitive domains (memory, language, attention-speed, executive functioning, visuospatial perception) and a global cognitive score. Adherence to MeDi was evaluated by an a priori score (range 0-55), derived from a detailed food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 62 incident dementia cases occurred during a mean (SD) of 3.1 (0.9) years of follow-up. Individuals in the highest MeDi quartile (highest adherence to MeDi) had a 72% lower risk for development of dementia, compared to those in the lowest one (p = 0.013). In addition, analysis of cognitive performance as a function of MeDi score revealed that the biennial cognitive benefit of a 10-unit increase in MeDi score offsets the cognitive decline associated with 1 year of cognitive aging. CONCLUSION: In the present study, higher adherence to MeDi was associated with a reduced risk for dementia and cognitive decline in a traditional Mediterranean population. SN - 1532-5415 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/33724444/Mediterranean_diet_and_risk_for_dementia_and_cognitive_decline_in_a_Mediterranean_population_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -