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Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay Diet in Relations to Brain Structural Markers and Their Changes
22 Pages Posted: 18 Jul 2023
More...Abstract
Background: The Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet was associated with lower risk of dementia, but its relation with brain structural markers and their changes is unclear.
Methods: We included 26466 participants from the UK Biobank who completed 24-hour diet recalls in 2009-2012. Brain regional imaging markers were measured using magnetic resonance in 2014-2020. We assessed the association of the MIND score (range: 0-15) with z-scores of 17 brain structural markers. In a subsample of 2963 participants who underwent a repeated brain imaging in 2018-2022 (median interval between assessments=2·2 years), we evaluated the association of the MIND score with longitudinal changes in brain structural markers.
Findings: Among the study participants (mean age = 55·1 years at recruitment), the median (interquartile range) baseline MIND diet score was 6·0 (5·0-7·0). Greater adherence to the MIND diet was associated with higher volumes in a panel of subcortical brain regions, including the thalamus, putamen, pallidum, hippocampus and accumbens (beta per 3-unit increment of MIND score ranged from 0·024 to 0·033, P-trends<=0·05 for all) and -0·029 lower z-score of white matter hyperintensities (P = 0·005). We did not observe significant associations of the baseline MIND score with longitudinal changes in brain structural markers (P>0·05 for all tests).
Interpretation: Adherence to the MIND diet showed beneficial associations with white matter hyperintensities and certain subcortical brain region volumes among middle-aged and older adults. Future studies are needed to confirm the assocaitions with long-term brain structural changes and elucidate specific mechanisms linking dietary intake to brain health.
Funding: Alzheimer’s Association (AARG-22-928604) and the Zhejiang University Global Partnership Fund.
Declaration of Interest: All authors declare no competing interests.
Keywords: Diet, Brain Structure, Cohort Study
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