Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Current Nutrition Reports
Published in: Current Nutrition Reports 3/2018

01-09-2018 | Neurological Disease and Cognitive Function (Y Gu, Section Editor)

The Role of Nutrition in Cognitive Function and Brain Ageing in the Elderly

Authors: Samantha L. Gardener, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith

Published in: Current Nutrition Reports | Issue 3/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purposes of this review were to examine literature published over the last 5 years and to evaluate the role of nutrition in cognitive function and brain ageing, focussing on the Mediterranean diet (MeDi), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diets.

Recent Findings

Results suggest that higher adherence to a healthy dietary pattern is associated with preservation of brain structure and function as well as slower cognitive decline, with the MIND diet substantially slowing cognitive decline, over and above the MeDi and DASH diets.

Summary

Whilst results to-date suggest adherence to a healthy diet, such as the MeDi, DASH, or MIND, is an important modifiable risk factor in the quest to develop strategies aimed at increasing likelihood of healthy brain ageing, further work is required to develop dietary guidelines with the greatest potential benefit for public health; a research topic of increasing importance as the world’s population ages.
Literature
1.
Tucker-Drob EM, Reynolds CA, Finkel D, Pedersen NL. Shared and unique genetic and environmental influences on aging-related changes in multiple cognitive abilities. Dev Psychol. 2014;50(1):152–66.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Cover KS, van Schijndel RA, van Dijk BW, Redolfi A, Knol DL, Frisoni GB, et al. Assessing the reproducibility of the SienaX and Siena brain atrophy measures using the ADNI back-to-back MP-RAGE MRI scans. Psychiatry Res. 2011;193(3):182–90.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Raz N, Lindenberger U, Rodrigue KM, Kennedy KM, Head D, Williamson A, et al. Regional brain changes in aging healthy adults: general trends, individual differences and modifiers. Cereb Cortex. 2005;15(11):1676–89.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Jobst KA, Smith AD, Szatmari M, Molyneux A, Esiri ME, King E, et al. Detection in life of confirmed Alzheimer's disease using a simple measurement of medial temporal lobe atrophy by computed tomography. Lancet. 1992;340(8829):1179–83.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Berti V, Mosconi L, Pupi A. Brain: normal variations and benign findings in fluorodeoxyglucose-PET/computed tomography imaging. PET Clin. 2014;9(2):129–40.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Salmon E, Sadzot B, Maquet P, Degueldre C, Lemaire C, Rigo P, et al. Differential diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease with PET. J Nucl Med. 1994;35(3):391–8.PubMed
7.
Rowe CC, Villemagne VL. Brain amyloid imaging. J Nucl Med. 2011;52(11):1733–40.PubMed
8.
9.
Gao X, Chen H, Fung TT, Logroscino G, Schwarzschild MA, Hu FB, et al. Prospective study of dietary pattern and risk of Parkinson disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;86(5):1486–94.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Trichopoulou A, Costacou T, Bamia C, Trichopoulos D. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet and survival in a Greek population. N Engl J Med. 2003;348(26):2599–608.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Sofi F, Abbate R, Gensini GF, Casini A. Accruing evidence on benefits of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on health: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;92(5):1189–96.CrossRefPubMed
16.
17.
Appel LJ, Moore TJ, Obarzanek E, Vollmer WM, Svetkey LP, Sacks FM, et al. A clinical trial of the effects of dietary patterns on blood pressure. DASH Collaborative Research Group. N Engl J Med. 1997;336(16):1117–24.CrossRefPubMed
18.
• Morris MC, Tangney CC, Wang Y, Sacks FM, Barnes LL, Bennett DA, et al. MIND diet slows cognitive decline with aging. Alzheimers Dement. 2015;11(9):1015–22. This study examined all three dietary patterns investigated in this review, and concluded that low MIND diet adherence is more predictive of cognitive decline than either low MeDi or DASH diet scores. CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
19.
Kesse-Guyot E, Andreeva VA, Lassale C, Ferry M, Jeandel C, Hercberg S, et al. Mediterranean diet and cognitive function: a French study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013;97(2):369–76.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Samieri C, Sun Q, Townsend MK, Chiuve SE, Okereke OI, Willett WC, et al. The association between dietary patterns at midlife and health in aging: an observational study. Ann Intern Med. 2013;159(9):584–91.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
21.
Samieri C, Okereke OI, E ED, Grodstein F. Long-term adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with overall cognitive status, but not cognitive decline, in women. J Nutr. 2013;143(4):493–9.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
22.
Katsiardanis K, Diamantaras AA, Dessypris N, Michelakos T, Anastasiou A, Katsiardani KP, et al. Cognitive impairment and dietary habits among elders: the Velestino study. J Med Food. 2013;16(4):343–50.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Martinez-Lapiscina EH, Clavero P, Toledo E, Estruch R, Salas-Salvado J, San Julian B, et al. Mediterranean diet improves cognition: the PREDIMED-NAVARRA randomised trial. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2013;84(12):1318–25.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Martinez-Lapiscina EH, Clavero P, Toledo E, San Julian B, Sanchez-Tainta A, Corella D, et al. Virgin olive oil supplementation and long-term cognition: the PREDIMED-NAVARRA randomized, trial. J Nutr Health Aging. 2013;17(6):544–52.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Tsivgoulis G, Judd S, Letter AJ, Alexandrov AV, Howard G, Nahab F, et al. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet and risk of incident cognitive impairment. Neurology. 2013;80(18):1684–92.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
26.
Tangney CC, Li H, Wang Y, Barnes L, Schneider JA, Bennett DA, et al. Relation of DASH- and Mediterranean-like dietary patterns to cognitive decline in older persons. Neurology. 2014;83(16):1410–6.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
27.
Gardener SL, Rainey-Smith SR, Barnes MB, Sohrabi HR, Weinborn M, Lim YY, et al. Dietary patterns and cognitive decline in an Australian study of ageing. Mol Psychiatry. 2014;
28.
•• Valls-Pedret C, Sala-Vila A, Serra-Mir M, Corella D, de la Torre R, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, et al. Mediterranean diet and age-related cognitive decline: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Int Med. 2015;175(7):1094–103. This is the first MeDi intervention trial, with analysis of cognitive performance both pre- and post- intervention, demonstrating a positive effect of MeDi consumption, supplemented with both nuts and extra virgin olive oil, on cognition. Intervention trials are required to establish a causal relationship between diet and cognitive performance. CrossRef
29.
McEvoy CT, Guyer H, Langa KM, Yaffe K. Neuroprotective diets are associated with better cognitive function: the health and retirement study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2017;65(8):1857–62.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
30.
Mosconi L, Murray J, Tsui WH, Li Y, Davies M, Williams S, et al. Mediterranean diet and magnetic resonance imaging-assessed brain atrophy in cognitively normal individuals at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. J Prev Alzheimers Dis. 2014;1(1):23–32.PubMedPubMedCentral
31.
Gu Y, Brickman AM, Stern Y, Habeck CG, Razlighi QR, Luchsinger JA, et al. Mediterranean diet and brain structure in a multiethnic elderly cohort. Neurology. 2015;85(20):1744–51.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
32.
Staubo SC, Aakre JA, Vemuri P, Syrjanen JA, Mielke MM, Geda YE, et al. Mediterranean diet, micronutrients and macronutrients, and MRI measures of cortical thickness. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. 2017;13(2):168–77.CrossRef
33.
Titova OE, Ax E, Brooks SJ, Sjogren P, Cederholm T, Kilander L, et al. Mediterranean diet habits in older individuals: associations with cognitive functioning and brain volumes. Exp Gerontol. 2013;48(12):1443–8.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Pelletier A, Barul C, Feart C, Helmer C, Bernard C, Periot O, et al. Mediterranean diet and preserved brain structural connectivity in older subjects. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. 2015;11(9):1023–31.CrossRef
35.
• Gu Y, Scarmeas N, Stern Y, Manly J, Schupf N, Mayeux R, et al. Mediterranean diet is associated with slower rates of hippocampal atrophy: a longitudinal study in cognitively normal older adults. Alzheimers Dement. 2016;12(7):193–4. One of the few longitudinal studies investigating MeDi adherence and brain atrophy in a relatively large cohort of cognitively normal participants. Higher MeDi adherence was associated with slower rate of hippocampal atrophy. CrossRef
36.
Luciano M, Corley J, Cox SR, Valdes Hernandez MC, Craig LC, Dickie DA, et al. Mediterranean-type diet and brain structural change from 73 to 76 years in a Scottish cohort. Neurology. 2017;88(5):449–55.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
37.
Matthews DC, Davies M, Murray J, Williams S, Tsui WH, Li Y, et al. Physical activity, Mediterranean diet and biomarkers-assessed risk of Alzheimer’s: a multi-modality brain imaging study. Adv J Mol Imaging. 2014;4(4):43–57.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
38.
Merrill DA, Siddarth P, Raji CA, Emerson ND, Rueda F, Ercoli LM, et al. Modifiable risk factors and brain positron emission tomography measures of amyloid and tau in nondemented adults with memory complaints. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;24(9):729–37.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
39.
•• Rainey-Smith SR, Gu Y, Gardener SL, Doecke JD, Villemagne VL, Brown BM, et al. Mediterranean diet adherence and rate of cerebral Aβ-amyloid accumulation: data from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle Study of Ageing. Transl Psychiatry. 2018; This is the only study to-date investigating MeDi adherence and accumulation of cerebral Aβ longitudinally, conducted in individuals on the pathway to Alzheimer's disease. Higher MeDi adherence was associated with significantly less Aβ accumulation over three years.
40.
Mecocci P. Oxidative stress in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease: a continuum. J Alzheimers Dis. 2004;6(2):159–63.CrossRefPubMed
41.
Galimberti D, Scarpini E. Inflammation and oxidative damage in Alzheimer’s disease: friend or foe. Front Biosci. 2011;3:252–66.CrossRef
42.
Devore EE, Kang JH, Breteler MM, Grodstein F. Dietary intakes of berries and flavonoids in relation to cognitive decline. Ann Neurol. 2012;72(1):135–43.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
43.
Andres-Lacueva C, Shukitt-Hale B, Galli RL, Jauregui O, Lamuela-Raventos RM, Joseph JA. Anthocyanins in aged blueberry-fed rats are found centrally and may enhance memory. Nutr Neurosci. 2005;8(2):111–20.CrossRefPubMed
44.
Joseph JA, Shukitt-Hale B, Willis LM. Grape juice, berries, and walnuts affect brain aging and behavior. J Nutr. 2009;139(9):1813S–7S.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Bakhtiari M, Panahi Y, Ameli J, Darvishi B. Protective effects of flavonoids against Alzheimer's disease-related neural dysfunctions. Biomed Pharmacother. 2017;93:218–29.CrossRefPubMed
46.
Urpi-Sarda M, Casas R, Chiva-Blanch G, Romero-Mamani ES, Valderas-Martinez P, Arranz S, et al. Virgin olive oil and nuts as key foods of the Mediterranean diet effects on inflammatory biomakers related to atherosclerosis. Pharmacol Res. 2012;65(6):577–83.CrossRefPubMed
47.
Estruch R, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, Corella D, Salas-Salvado J, Ruiz-Gutierrez V, Covas MI, et al. Effects of a Mediterranean-style diet on cardiovascular risk factors: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2006;145(1):1–11.CrossRefPubMed
48.
Vassiliou EK, Gonzalez A, Garcia C, Tadros JH, Chakraborty G, Toney JH. Oleic acid and peanut oil high in oleic acid reverse the inhibitory effect of insulin production of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha both in vitro and in vivo systems. Lipids Health Dis. 2009;8:25.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
49.
Fung TT, Chiuve SE, McCullough ML, Rexrode KM, Logroscino G, Hu FB. Adherence to a DASH-style diet and risk of coronary heart disease and stroke in women. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(7):713–20.CrossRefPubMed
50.
Mena MP, Sacanella E, Vazquez-Agell M, Morales M, Fito M, Escoda R, et al. Inhibition of circulating immune cell activation: a molecular antiinflammatory effect of the Mediterranean diet. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89(1):248–56.CrossRefPubMed
51.
Chrysohoou C, Panagiotakos DB, Pitsavos C, Das UN, Stefanadis C. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet attenuates inflammation and coagulation process in healthy adults: The ATTICA Study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2004;44(1):152–8.CrossRefPubMed
52.
Abuznait AH, Qosa H, Busnena BA, El Sayed KA, Kaddoumi A. Olive-oil-derived oleocanthal enhances beta-amyloid clearance as a potential neuroprotective mechanism against Alzheimer’s disease: in vitro and in vivo studies. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2013;4(6):973–82.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
53.
Del Rio D, Rodriguez-Mateos A, Spencer JP, Tognolini M, Borges G, Crozier A. Dietary (poly)phenolics in human health: structures, bioavailability, and evidence of protective effects against chronic diseases. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2013;18(14):1818–92.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
54.
Dyall SC. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and the brain: a review of the independent and shared effects of EPA, DPA and DHA. Front Aging Neurosci. 2015;7:52.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
55.
Calder P. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammatory processes: nutrition of pharmacology. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2012;75(3):645–62.CrossRef
56.
Erlinger TP, Miller ER 3rd, Charleston J, Appel LJ. Inflammation modifies the effects of a reduced-fat low-cholesterol diet on lipids: results from the DASH-sodium trial. Circulation. 2003;108(2):150–4.CrossRefPubMed
57.
Miller ER 3rd, Erlinger TP, Sacks FM, Svetkey LP, Charleston J, Lin PH, et al. A dietary pattern that lowers oxidative stress increases antibodies to oxidized LDL: results from a randomized controlled feeding study. Atherosclerosis. 2005;183(1):175–82.CrossRefPubMed
58.
Blumenthal JA, Babyak MA, Hinderliter A, Watkins LL, Craighead L, Lin PH, et al. Effects of the DASH diet alone and in combination with exercise and weight loss on blood pressure and cardiovascular biomarkers in men and women with high blood pressure: the ENCORE study. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(2):126–35.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
59.
Azadbakht L, Surkan PJ, Esmaillzadeh A, Willett WC. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension eating plan affects C-reactive protein, coagulation abnormalities, and hepatic function tests among type 2 diabetic patients. J Nutr. 2011;141(6):1083–8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
60.
Casas R, Sacanella E, Urpi-Sarda M, Chiva-Blanch G, Ros E, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, et al. The effects of the mediterranean diet on biomarkers of vascular wall inflammation and plaque vulnerability in subjects with high risk for cardiovascular disease. A randomized trial. PLoS One. 2014;9(6):e100084.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
61.
Romaguera D, Norat T, Mouw T, May AM, Bamia C, Slimani N, et al. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with lower abdominal adiposity in European men and women. J Nutr. 2009;139(9):1728–37.CrossRefPubMed
62.
Estruch R, Ros E, Salas-Salvado J, Covas MI, Corella D, Aros F, et al. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with a Mediterranean diet. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(14):1279–90.CrossRefPubMed
63.
Domenech M, Roman P, Lapetra J, Garcia de la Corte FJ, Sala-Vila A, de la Torre R, et al. Mediterranean diet reduces 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, blood glucose, and lipids: one-year randomized, clinical trial. Hypertension. 2014;64(1):69–76.CrossRefPubMed
64.
Asemi Z, Tabassi Z, Samimi M, Fahiminejad T, Esmaillzadeh A. Favourable effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet on glucose tolerance and lipid profiles in gestational diabetes: a randomised clinical trial. Br J Nutr. 2013;109(11):2024–30.CrossRefPubMed
65.
Moore TJ, Alsabeeh N, Apovian CM, Murphy MC, Coffman GA, Cullum-Dugan D, et al. Weight, blood pressure, and dietary benefits after 12 months of a web-based nutrition education program (DASH for health): longitudinal observational study. J Med Internet Res. 2008;10(4):e52.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
Metadata
Title
The Role of Nutrition in Cognitive Function and Brain Ageing in the Elderly
Authors
Samantha L. Gardener
Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith
Publication date
01-09-2018
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Nutrition Reports / Issue 3/2018
Electronic ISSN: 2161-3311
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-018-0229-y

Other articles of this Issue 3/2018

Current Nutrition Reports 3/2018 Go to the issue

Gastroenterology, Critical Care, and Lifestyle Medicine (SA McClave, Section Editor)

From Religion to Secularism: the Benefits of Fasting

Gastroenterology, Critical Care, and Lifestyle Medicine (SA McClave, Section Editor)

Use of Enteral Nutrition for Gastrointestinal Bleeding Prophylaxis in the Critically Ill: Review of Current Literature

Gastroenterology, Critical Care, and Lifestyle Medicine (SA McClave, Section Editor)

Impact of Energy Drinks on Health and Well-being

Gastroenterology, Critical Care, and Lifestyle Medicine (SA McClave, Section Editor)

Are We Going Nuts on Coconut Oil?

Cardiovascular Disease (JHY Wu, Section Editor)

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni and Its Effects in Human Disease: Emphasizing Its Role in Inflammation, Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Syndrome

Gastroenterology, Critical Care, and Lifestyle Medicine (SA McClave, Section Editor)

Nutritional Ketosis for Weight Management and Reversal of Metabolic Syndrome
Live Webinar | 27-06-2024 | 18:00 (CEST)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Reserve your place

Live: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

WHO estimates that half of all patients worldwide are non-adherent to their prescribed medication. The consequences of poor adherence can be catastrophic, on both the individual and population level.

Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.

Prof. Kevin Dolgin
Prof. Florian Limbourg
Prof. Anoop Chauhan
Developed by: Springer Medicine
Obesity Clinical Trial Summary

At a glance: The STEP trials

Read more

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.

Developed by: Springer Medicine

Highlights from the ACC 2024 Congress

Year in Review: Pediatric cardiology

Pediatric Cardiology Video

Watch Dr. Anne Marie Valente present the last year's highlights in pediatric and congenital heart disease in the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Pulmonary vascular disease

Cardiopulmonary Comorbidity Video

The last year's highlights in pulmonary vascular disease are presented by Dr. Jane Leopold in this official video from ACC.24.

Year in Review: Valvular heart disease

Valvular Heart Disease Video

Watch Prof. William Zoghbi present the last year's highlights in valvular heart disease from the official ACC.24 Year in Review session.

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Heart Failure Video

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discusses last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

ACC 2024 Congress Coverage

Year in Review: Heart failure and cardiomyopathies

Heart Failure Video

Watch this official video from ACC.24. Dr. Biykem Bozkurt discusses last year's major advances in heart failure and cardiomyopathies.

Watch now

Semaglutide benefits people with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure

16-04-2024 Type 2 Diabetes News

Incentivised to exercise

11-04-2024 Lifestyle Modifications News

New intervention for STEMI-related cardiogenic shock

10-04-2024 Myocardial Infarction News

» View more highlights on the ACC 2024 congress hub page

Image Credits