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Associations of the Mediterranean diet with cognitive and neuroimaging phenotypes of dementia in healthy older adults
Karstens AJ, Tussing-Humphreys L, Zhan L, Rajendran N, Cohen J, Dion C, Zhou XJ, Lamar M.. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 2019-02-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Accumulating evidence suggests that higher Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) adherence is associated with higher global cognitive performance and brain structural integrity as well as decreased risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). Objectives We directly examined cross-sectional associations between the MedDiet and cognitive and neuroimaging phenotypes associated with AD and VaD (separately) in a cohort of nondemented, nondepressed older adults. Methods Community-dwelling older adults (n = 82; aged ∼68.8 y; 50% female, 50% minority) underwent dietary (Block Food Frequency Questionnaire 2005) and neuropsychological assessments and neuroimaging. MedDiet scores were quantified with the use of published criteria, and participants were divided into High and Low (median split) adherence groups. We focused our neuropsychological investigation on cognitive phenotypes primarily associated with AD [i.e., learning and memory (L&M)] and VaD (i.e., information processing and executive functioning). AD neuroimaging phenotypes consisted of hippocampal and dentate gyrus volumes quantified using T1-weighted images and the FreeSurfer 6.0 segmentation pipeline (http://surfer.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu). The VaD neuroimaging phenotype consisted of total white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes quantified using combined T1-weighted and T2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. Neuroimaging metrics were adjusted for total intracranial volume. Separate multivariable linear regression models controlling for age, sex, education, body mass index, and caloric intake examined the associations between MedDiet groups (High compared with Low) and cognitive and neuroimaging outcomes. Results When compared with the Low MedDiet group, the High MedDiet group was associated with better L&M performance and larger dentate gyri. MedDiet adherence was not associated with information processing, executive functioning, or WMH. Conclusion Results highlight the association between increasing MedDiet adherence and specific cognitive and neuroimaging phenotypes that, when altered, are associated with AD.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Karstens, A. J., Tussing-Humphreys, L., Zhan, L., Rajendran, N., Cohen, J., Dion, C., et al. (2019). Associations of the Mediterranean diet with cognitive and neuroimaging phenotypes of dementia in healthy older adults. The American journal of clinical nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqy275
Vancouver
Karstens AJ, Tussing-Humphreys L, Zhan L, Rajendran N, Cohen J, Dion C, et al. Associations of the Mediterranean diet with cognitive and neuroimaging phenotypes of dementia in healthy older adults. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2019. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqy275. PMID: 30698630.
BibTeX
@article{karstens2019-30698630,
author = {Karstens, A. J. and Tussing-Humphreys, L. and Zhan, L. and Rajendran, N. and Cohen, J. and Dion, C. and Zhou, X. J. and Lamar, M.},
title = {{Associations of the Mediterranean diet with cognitive and neuroimaging phenotypes of dementia in healthy older adults}},
journal = {The American journal of clinical nutrition},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1093/ajcn/nqy275},
pmid = {30698630},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqy275}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Background Accumulating evidence suggests that higher Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) adherence is associated with higher global cognitive performance and brain structural integrity as well as decreased risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD).
- Objectives We directly examined cross-sectional associations between the MedDiet and cognitive and neuroimaging phenotypes associated with AD and VaD (separately) in a cohort of nondemented, nondepressed older adults.
- We focused our neuropsychological investigation on cognitive phenotypes primarily associated with AD [i.e., learning and memory (L&M)] and VaD (i.e., information processing and executive functioning).
- Separate multivariable linear regression models controlling for age, sex, education, body mass index, and caloric intake examined the associations between MedDiet groups (High compared with Low) and cognitive and neuroimaging outcomes.
- Results When compared with the Low MedDiet group, the High MedDiet group was associated with better L&M performance and larger dentate gyri.
Why it matters
This cross-sectional study examined associations between Mediterranean diet adherence and cognitive and neuroimaging measures linked to Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia in healthy older adults. As a cross-sectional study, it can show associations but cannot establish that the diet prevents dementia.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants82
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 57/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The American journal of clinical nutrition) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: journal h-index 499 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 82 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) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 136 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 15.1 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 5 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 37 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Melissa Lamar: h-index 53 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Pittsburgh: institution h-index 1,470 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30698630) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 57 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy275
- PubMed: 30698630
- Original source →
- Free full text: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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