Mediterranean diet and cognitive health: Initial results from the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Ageing and Diet

Costas A. Anastasiou, Mary Yannakoulia, Mary H. Kosmidis, Efthimios Dardiotis, Giorgos M. Hadjigeorgiou, Paraskevi Sakka, Xanthi Arampatzi, Anastasia Bougea, Ioannis Labropoulos, Nikolaos Scarmeas, Catherine Feart
2017 PLoS ONE  
Editor: Catherine Feart, INSERM, U897, FRANCE Results Among 1,865 individuals (mean age 73±6 years, 41% male), 90 were diagnosed with dementia and 223 with mild cognitive impairment. Each unit increase in the Mediterranean dietary score (MedDietScore) was associated with a 10% decrease in the odds for dementia. Adherence to the MeDi was also associated with better performance in memory, language, visuospatial perception and the composite cognitive score; the associations were strongest for
more » ... y. Fish consumption was negatively associated with dementia and cognitive performance positively associated with non-refined cereal consumption. Conclusions Our results suggest that adherence to the MeDi is associated with better cognitive performance and lower dementia rates in Greek elders. Thus, the MeDi in its a priori constructed prototype form may have cognitive benefits in traditional Mediterranean populations. Mediterranean diet and cognition PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0182048 pmid:28763509 pmcid:PMC5538737 fatcat:bfzi7ttqyfb6jark2szskwjih4