Less Postmortem Alzheimer Disease Pathology Seen With MIND, Mediterranean Diets

THURSDAY, March 9, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Less postmortem Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology, mainly beta-amyloid load, is seen with the Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) and Mediterranean diets, according to a study published online March 8 in Neurology.

Puja Agarwal, Ph.D., from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and colleagues examined the association of the MIND and Mediterranean dietary patterns with beta-amyloid load, phosphorylated tau tangles, and global AD pathology in the postmortem brain tissue of older adults. Data were included for 581 study participants (age at death, 91.0 ± 6.3 years).

The researchers found that dietary patterns were associated with lower global AD pathology (MIND: β = −0.022; Mediterranean: β = −0.007), and specifically, less beta-amyloid load (MIND: β = −0.068; Mediterranean: β = −0.040). When further adjusted for physical activity, smoking, and vascular disease burden, the findings persisted. When participants with mild cognitive impairment or dementia at the baseline dietary assessment were excluded, the associations were retained. Less global AD pathology was seen for those in the highest versus the lowest tertile of green leafy vegetables intake (β = −0.115).

"These results are exciting -- improvement in people's diets in just one area -- such as eating more than six servings of green leafy vegetables per week, or not eating fried foods -- was associated with fewer amyloid plaques in the brain similar to being about four years younger," Agarwal said in a statement.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)