TY - JOUR
KW - Ageing
KW - Alzheimer disease
KW - Alzheimer disease
KW - cognition
KW - Cognition Disorders
KW - Cognitive functions
KW - diet
KW - Mediterranean
KW - health behavior
KW - Humans
KW - Life Style
KW - Mediterranean diet
KW - Aging
KW - alcohol
KW - alcohol consumption
KW - cardiovascular risk
KW - cereal
KW - cognition
KW - cognitive defect
KW - conference paper
KW - dairy product
KW - Dementia
KW - environmental factor
KW - fish meat
KW - food intake
KW - fruit
KW - human
KW - Inflammation
KW - legume
KW - lifestyle
KW - mild cognitive impairment
KW - Olive oil
KW - oxidative stress
KW - pathogenesis
KW - patient compliance
KW - poultry
KW - red meat
KW - red wine
KW - Risk
KW - scoring system
KW - vegetable
AU - Catherine Feart
AU - Cecilia Samieri
AU - Benjamin Alles
AU - Pascale Barberger-Gateau
AB - The purpose of this review was to update available knowledge on the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) and cognitive decline, risk of dementia or Alzheimer s Disease (AD), and to analyse the reasons for some inconsistent results across studies. The traditional MeDi has been recognised by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This dietary pattern is characterised by a high consumption of plant foods (i.e. vegetables, fruits, legumes and cereals), a high intake of olive oil as the main source of fat, a moderate intake of fish, low-to-moderate intake of dairy products and low consumption of meat and poultry, with wine consumed in low-to-moderate amounts during meals. Beyond the well-known association between higher adherence to the MeDi and lower risk of mortality, in particular from CVD and cancer, new data from large epidemiological studies suggest a relationship between MeDi adherence and cognitive decline or risk of dementia. However, some inconsistent results have been found as well, even in Mediterranean countries. In this review, we analyse the reasons likely to explain these discrepancies, and propose that most of these differences are due to variations in the methodology used to assess MeDi adherence. We also discuss the possibility of residual confounding by lifestyle, that is, greater adherents to the MeDi also have a healthier lifestyle in general, which can favourably affect cognition. In conclusion, large-scale studies in various populations with common methodology are required before considering the MeDi as an optimal dietary strategy to prevent cognitive decline or dementia.
DO - 10.1017/S0029665112002959
M1 - 1
N2 - The purpose of this review was to update available knowledge on the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) and cognitive decline, risk of dementia or Alzheimer s Disease (AD), and to analyse the reasons for some inconsistent results across studies. The traditional MeDi has been recognised by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This dietary pattern is characterised by a high consumption of plant foods (i.e. vegetables, fruits, legumes and cereals), a high intake of olive oil as the main source of fat, a moderate intake of fish, low-to-moderate intake of dairy products and low consumption of meat and poultry, with wine consumed in low-to-moderate amounts during meals. Beyond the well-known association between higher adherence to the MeDi and lower risk of mortality, in particular from CVD and cancer, new data from large epidemiological studies suggest a relationship between MeDi adherence and cognitive decline or risk of dementia. However, some inconsistent results have been found as well, even in Mediterranean countries. In this review, we analyse the reasons likely to explain these discrepancies, and propose that most of these differences are due to variations in the methodology used to assess MeDi adherence. We also discuss the possibility of residual confounding by lifestyle, that is, greater adherents to the MeDi also have a healthier lifestyle in general, which can favourably affect cognition. In conclusion, large-scale studies in various populations with common methodology are required before considering the MeDi as an optimal dietary strategy to prevent cognitive decline or dementia.
SP - 140
EP - 152
TI - Potential benefits of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on cognitive health
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84872872264&doi=10.1017%2fS0029665112002959&partnerID=40&md5=caec07b0a03e5e68928ebe6b5a30845b
VL - 72
SN - 00296651 (ISSN)
ER -