Mediterranean Diet (2006-19) & Alzheimer's

There is a great deal of research suggesting that the Mediterranean diet reduces the incidence of dementia (including a meta-analysis of 32 studies)^{1, 2} and Alzheimer's disease.^{3, 4, 5, 6}

The benefit appears to reduce amyloid beta accumulation^{7, 8} (there is some contradictory research⁹) and improve neuroimaging biomarker profiles.^{10, 11} Researchers also note that the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant polyphenols in the diet reduce the risk of microglia-mediated neuroinflammation.¹²

Research

1. Petersson SD, Philippou E. (2016). Mediterranean Diet, Cognitive Function, and Dementia: A Systematic Review of the Evidence. Adv Nutr. Sep 15;7(5):889-904.
2. Safouris A, Tsiygoulis G, Sergentanis TN, Psaltopoulou T. (2015). Mediterranean Diet and Risk of Dementia. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2015;12(8):736-44.
3. Roman GC, Jackson RE, Gadhia R, Roman AN, Reis J. (2019). Mediterranean diet: The role of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in fish; polyphenols in fruits, vegetables, cereals, coffee, tea, cacao and wine; probiotics and vitamins in prevention of stroke, age-related cognitive decline, and Alzheimer disease. Rev Neurol (Paris). Sep 11:S0035-3787(19)30773-8.
4. Mayo Clinic. Mediterranean diet: A heart-healthy eating plan. Retrieved Jun 20 2019 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/ healthylifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/mediterranean-diet/art-20047801.
5. Scarmeas N, Stern Y, Tang MX, Mayeux R, Luchsinger JA. (2006). Mediterranean diet and risk for Alzheimer's disease. Ann Neurol. Jun;59(6):912-21.
6. Lourida I, Soni M, Thompson-Coon J, Purandare N, Lang IA, et al. (2013). Mediterranean diet, cognitive function, and dementia: a systematic review. J Epidemiology. Jul;24(4):479-89.
7. Dietary patterns: a novel approach to examine the link between nutrition and cognitive function in older individuals. Alles B, Samieri C, Feart C, Jutand MA, Laurin D, Barberger-Gateau P Nutr Res Rev. 2012 Dec; 25(2):207-22.
8. Rainey-Smith SR, Gu Y, Gardener SL, Doecke JD, Villemagne VL, et al. (2018). Mediterranean diet adherence and rate of cerebral AB-amyloid accumulation: Data from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle Study of Aging. Transl Psychiatry. Oct 30;8(1):238.
9. Hill E, Szoeke C, Dennerstein L, Campbell S, Clifton P. (2018). Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet is not related to Beta-Amyloid Deposition: Data from the Women's Healthy Aging Project. J Prev Alzheimers Dis. 5(2):137-141.
10. Vassilaki M, Aakre JA, Syrianen JA, Mielke MM, Geda YE, et al. (2018). Mediterranean Diet, Its Components, and Amyloid Imaging Biomarkers. J Alzheimers Dis. 64(1):281-290.
11. Berti V, Walters M, Sterling J, Quinn CG, Logue M, et al. (2018). Mediterranean diet and 3-year Alzheimer brain biomarker changes in middle-aged adults. Neurology. May 15;90(20):e1789-e1798.
12. Harnedo-Ortega R, Cerezo AB, de Pablos RM, Krisa S, Richard T, et al. (2018). Phenolic Compounds Characteristic of the Mediterranean Diet in Mitigating Microglia-Mediated Neuroinflammation. Front Cell Neurosci. Oct 23;12:273.