Mediterranean Diet and Cognition

The evidence for a beneficial effect of a Mediterranean style diet (MedDiet) on brain health grows on a regular basis.

For those interested in a good summary of the effects of the MedDiet on cognition, I recommend reading the free full text review recently published in Frontiers in Neuroscience.

In this review, Roy Hardman and colleagues searched for research studies on cognition and the Mediterranean diet published between 2000 and 2015.

A figure in the review proposed several mechanisms where components in a MedDiet may contribute to brain function:

• Cardiovascular: effect on blood pressure/blood lipids and arterial stiffness
• Inflammation: lowering of blood inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein and cytokines
• Neurotrophic effects: Increased levels of BDNF, insulin growth factor stimulating neurogenesis
• Cell signalling
• Cellular energy metabilism
• Lowering of oxidative stress

Using a rigorous selection process, Hardman and colleagues identified 18 high-quality recent studies of the MedDiet and adult human cognition. These studies generally demonstrated an positive effect for subjects with higher compliance with MedDiet elements. These positive effects included research supporting:

• A slower rate of cognitive decline with aging
• A reduced risk of developing mild cognitive impairment
• Improved recognition memory and delayed recognition memory
• Improved cognitive reserve on the Mini-mental status examination test (MMSE)
• Improved attention

The authors conclude that evidence to date supports prospective randomized clinical trials of MedDiet nutritional intervention. These studies should included standardized batteries of cognitive function that can be administered via a computer or tablet.

For readers with more interest in the review, you can access the free full-text manuscript by clicking on the PMID link in the citation below.

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Photo in this post of foods found in the Mediterranean diet is from my personal files.

Hardman RJ, Kennedy G, Macpherson H, Scholey AB, & Pipingas A (2016). Adherence to a Mediterranean-Style Diet and Effects on Cognition in Adults: A Qualitative Evaluation and Systematic Review of Longitudinal and Prospective Trials. Frontiers in nutrition, 3 PMID: 27500135