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Mediterranean diet and cognitive function: The sun project

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The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objective

Our aim was to evaluate the association between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) and cognitive function in 823 participants (62 ± 6 years at baseline) from a Spanish prospective cohort (SUN project).

Method

A validated 136-item food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the adherence to the MedDiet at baseline. The 10-point (0 to 9) MedDiet Score was used to categorize adherence to MedDiet. Cognitive function was assessed twice at follow-up with a mean follow-up time between exposure and outcome assessment of 6 and 8y using the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-m, range 0 to 54 points). ANCOVA models were used to assess the association between adherence to the MedDiet and cognitive decline.

Results

In the multivariable-adjusted analysis of 2-year changes, a higher cognitive decline was observed among participants with low or moderate baseline adherence to the MedDiet than among those with better adherence (adjusted difference = −0.56 points in TICS-m, 95% CI = −0.99 to −0.13).

Conclusion

A higher adherence to the MedDiet might be associated with better cognitive function. However, observed differences were of small magnitude and further studies are needed to confirm this finding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra and University of Navarra Clinic, Irunlarrea s/n, 31008, Pamplona, Spain

    Cecilia Galbete, E. Toledo, M. Bes-Rastrollo, P. Buil-Cosiales, F. Guillén-Grima & M. A. Martínez-González

  2. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging, Centre for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 295 John Morgan Building, 3620 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

    J. B. Toledo

  3. Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Physiology, Schools of Pharmacy and Sciences, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea s/n, 31008, Pamplona, Spain

    A. Marti

  4. Primary Health Care, Navarra Health Service-Osasunbidea, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain

    P. Buil-Cosiales

  5. CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Pamplona, Spain

    E. Toledo, P. Buil-Cosiales, A. Marti, F. Guillén-Grima & M. A. Martínez-González

  6. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra and University of Navarra Clinic, Pamplona, Spain, C/ Irunlarrea no 1, Pamplona, Navarra, E-31008, Spain

    Cecilia Galbete

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  1. Cecilia Galbete
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  2. E. Toledo
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Correspondence to Cecilia Galbete.

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Galbete, C., Toledo, E., Toledo, J.B. et al. Mediterranean diet and cognitive function: The sun project. J Nutr Health Aging 19, 305–312 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-015-0441-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-015-0441-z

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