Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias are now the seventh leading cause of death in the world and are projected to affect 115.4 million people by 2050. Delaying the onset of AD by just five years is estimated to reduce the cost and prevalence of the disease by half. There is no cure for AD nor any drug therapies to halt its progression once the disease begins. Lifestyle choices including diet are being seen as a viable complementary therapy to reduce cognitive decline, the hallmark of AD. Mediterranean, DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), and MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diets have biological mechanisms supporting their potential neuroprotective benefits, but the findings of study outcomes about these benefits have been inconsistent. This paper analyzed five Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) (from 2000 to 2021) and 27 observational studies (from 2010 to 2021) focused on the link between cognitive health and the Mediterranean/DASH/MIND diets to identify gaps and challenges that could lead to inconsistent results. These include a lack of accuracy in assessing food intake, multiple dietary pattern scoring systems, a shifting metric among studies focused on the Mediterranean diet, a lack of standards in the tools used to assess cognitive decline, and studies that were underpowered or had follow-up periods too short to detect cognitive change. Insights from these gaps and challenges are summarized in recommendations for future RCTs, including both pragmatic and explanatory RCTs.
Highlights
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias are the seventh leading cause of death in the world [1]
This paper provides a critical review of the current literature related to neuroprotective dietary patterns and cognitive decline
Six of the 27 observational studies included more than one dietary pattern (e.g., Mediterranean, DASH, and/or MIND diets were compared in one paper)
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias are the seventh leading cause of death in the world [1]. B vitamins, polyphenols, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), found in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and red wine, may play a role in reducing the risk of AD or delaying its onset. These nutrients inhibit the formation of beta-amyloid peptide oligomers and fibers associated with AD [9]. It is unclear whether the Medi, DASH, or MIND diet is superior for preventing or reducing cognitive decline due to several factors. These solutions include gold-standard explanatory Randomized Clinical Trials which demonstrate efficacy, as well as pragmatic RCTs which demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions in real-life environments such as clinical practices or community settings
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
