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58/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 58 out of 100. Genetics

Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis

Background and objectives Diet may reduce Alzheimer dementia risk and slow cognitive decline, but the understanding of the relevant neuropathologic mechanisms remains limited. The association of dietary patterns with Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology has been suggested using neuroimaging biomarkers. This study examined the association of Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) and Mediterranean dietary patterns with β-amyloid load, phosphorylated tau tangles, and global AD pathology in postmortem brain tissue of older adults. Methods Autopsied participants of the Rush Memory and Aging Project with complete dietary information (collected through a validated food frequency questionnaire) and AD pathology data (β-amyloid load, phosphorylated tau tangles, and global AD pathology [summarized neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic and diffuse plaques]) were included in this study. Linear regression models controlled for age at death, sex, education, APOE-ε4 status, and total calories were used to investigate the dietary patterns (MIND and Mediterranean diets) and dietary components associated with AD pathology. Further effect modification was tested for APOE-ε4 status and sex. Results Among our study participants (N = 581, age at death: 91.0 ± 6.3 years; mean age at first dietary assessment: 84.2 ± 5.8 years; 73% female; 6.8 ± 3.9 years of follow-up), dietary patterns were associated with lower global AD pathology (MIND: β = -0.022, p = 0.034, standardized β = -2.0; Mediterranean: β = -0.007, p = 0.039, standardized β = -2.3) and specifically less β-amyloid load (MIND: β = -0.068, p = 0.050, standardized β = -2.0; Mediterranean: β = -0.040, p = 0.004, standardized β = -2.9). The findings persisted when further adjusted for physical activity, smoking, and vascular disease burden. The associations were also retained when participants with mild cognitive impairment or dementia at the baseline dietary assessment were excluded. Those in the highest tertile of green leafy vegetables intake had less global AD pathology when compared with those in the lowest tertile (tertile 3 vs tertile 1: β = -0.115, p = 0.0038). Discussion The MIND and Mediterranean diets are associated with less postmortem AD pathology, primarily β-amyloid load. Among dietary components, higher green leafy vegetable intake was associated with less AD pathology.

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APA 7th

Agarwal, P., Leurgans, S. E., Agrawal, S., Aggarwal, N. T., Cherian, L. J., James, B. D., et al. (2023). Association of Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay and Mediterranean Diets With Alzheimer Disease Pathology. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000207176

Vancouver

Agarwal P, Leurgans SE, Agrawal S, Aggarwal NT, Cherian LJ, James BD, et al. Association of Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay and Mediterranean Diets With Alzheimer Disease Pathology. Neurology. 2023. doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000207176. PMID: 36889921.

BibTeX

@article{agarwal2023-36889921,
  author  = {Agarwal, P. and Leurgans, S. E. and Agrawal, S. and Aggarwal, N. T. and Cherian, L. J. and James, B. D. and Dhana, K. and others},
  title   = {{Association of Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay and Mediterranean Diets With Alzheimer Disease Pathology}},
  journal = {Neurology},
  year    = {2023},
  doi     = {10.1212/wnl.0000000000207176},
  pmid    = {36889921},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000207176}
}

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Key findings

Linear regression models controlled for age at death, sex, education, APOE-ε4 status, and total calories were used to investigate the dietary patterns (MIND and Mediterranean diets) and dietary components associated with AD pathology.
Results Among our study participants (N = 581, age at death: 91.0 ± 6.3 years; mean age at first dietary assessment: 84.2 ± 5.8 years; 73% female; 6.8 ± 3.9 years of follow-up), dietary patterns were associated with lower global AD pathology (MIND: β = -0.022, p = 0.034, standardized β = -2.0; Mediterranean: β = -0.007, p = 0.039, standardized β = -2.3) and specifically less β-amyloid load (MIND: β = -0.068, p = 0.050, standardized β = -2.0; Mediterranean: β = -0.040, p = 0.004, standardized β = -2.9).
Those in the highest tertile of green leafy vegetables intake had less global AD pathology when compared with those in the lowest tertile (tertile 3 vs tertile 1: β = -0.115, p = 0.0038).
Discussion The MIND and Mediterranean diets are associated with less postmortem AD pathology, primarily β-amyloid load.
Among dietary components, higher green leafy vegetable intake was associated with less AD pathology.

Why it matters

In 581 autopsied participants, higher MIND and Mediterranean dietary pattern scores were associated with lower global Alzheimer's disease pathology. This is an observational association in older adults and does not prove that these diets prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease.

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Study details

Participants581
Evidence strengthLow

How this study scored 58/100

Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	9 / 10	Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology)
Journal's citation record	4 / 4	Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	0 / 12	No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Strength of evidence	1 / 5	Rated “low” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	3 / 5	2023 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	2 / 4	581 participants
Effect reported	0 / 3	No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Studied in people	3 / 3	Studied in people (participant count stated)
Randomised / blinded	0 / 2	No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	5 / 7	Cited 165 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	4 / 5	33.0 citations a year over 5 year(s) since 2023
Impact for its field and year	5 / 6	Cited 29.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	3 / 6	Cited by 19 other studies in this library
Still being cited	3 / 4	Cited 147 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	4 / 4	Last-listed author Julie A. Schneider: h-index 151 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	0 / 3	Rush University Medical Center: institution h-index 670 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	0 / 3	OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete)
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 36889921)
Free to read	0 / 2	Behind a paywall — scores zero
Total	58 / 100	—

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