Mediterranean diet improves cognitive function in older adults

Specifically, there was a 35% lower risk for scoring poorly on cognitive function tests associated with adherence to the Mediterranean diet. "The Mediterranean diet, rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, olive oil and fish, has been proven to have vascular and anti-inflammatory benefits and may be neuroprotective," they added. Even with moderate adherence to the Mediterranean diet, there was a 15% lower risk of performing poorly on the cognitive tests. Adherence to the diets was determined using data from the questionnaires and by calculating diet scores generated with predefined criteria for the Mediterranean diet (range, 0-55) and the MIND diet (range, 0-15). "This study shows that greater adherence to [the Mediterranean diet] and MIND diet patterns are associated with better overall cognitive function in older adults and lower odds of cognitive impairment, which could have important public health implications for preservation of cognition during aging," McEvoy and colleagues concluded.

There's actually a huge limitation to the Mediterranean diet

"These findings should not put anyone off a Mediterranean diet; this is still the best option for reducing risk of heart disease." "However, there is no quick-fix diet; a healthy diet has to be a part of an overall heart-healthy lifestyle that includes not smoking, taking regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight." But now, scientists have discovered a significant caveat to the health advantages that the Mediterranean diet provides – and it's one that seems to strictly limit just who can snare the benefits of the regimen. People in the study with lower education or incomes demonstrated no cardiovascular benefits to following the Mediterranean diet – even if their adherence to Mediterranean staples was the same. But until we know more, other scientists are saying that we shouldn't write off the Mediterranean diet just yet – as there could be a whole host of variables to explain the outcome here.


AbstractBackground: It is uncertain whether the cardiovascular benefits associated with Mediterranean diet (MD) may differ across socioeconomic groups. Figure 1a and b shows differences in diet-related indices (highest vs lowest educational or income groups), divided by standard deviation of the difference. Mean differences in diet-related indices for highest vs lowest household income groups sharing similar adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MDS ≥ 6). Conclusions: MD is associated with lower CVD risk but this relationship is confined to higher socioeconomic groups. In groups sharing similar scores of adherence to MD, diet-related disparities across socioeconomic groups persisted.


collected by :Lucy William