Elderly individuals who follow a Mediterranean diet are less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment (dementia) and to convert from it to Alzheimer’s disease, according to researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York.

First, the details.

• 1393 normal adults, 275 of whom developed mild cognitive impairment over an average of 4.5 years (range, 0.9-16.4 years) were studied.
• Their adherence to the Mediterranean diet was ranked (0 to 9 [highest]).
• The incidence of mild cognitive impairment and progression to Alzheimer’s disease were recorded.
• The results were adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, education, apolipoprotein E genotype, caloric intake, body mass index, and duration between the first dietary assessment and diagnosis.
  • ApoE genotyping helps confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

And, the results.
Mild cognitive impairment

• Compared with the poorest adherence to the Mediterranean diet, those with highest adherence had a significant 28% less risk of developing mild cognitive impairment.
• There was no difference between the poorest and middle level of adherence to the diet.

Alzheimer’s disease

• Compared with the participants with the lowest adherence to the Mediterranean diet, those with a middle level of adherence had a significant 45% less risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
• Those in the highest adherence had a significant 48% less risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The bottom line?
The authors concluded, “Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a trend for reduced risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, and with reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment conversion to Alzheimer’s disease.”

“Based on this single study,” said Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas, “we cannot make dietary recommendations, but it adds to accumulating evidence that in addition to affecting cardiovascular and other diseases, diet also affects brain function.”

2/21/09 20:57 JR