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Long‐term adherence and changes in the Mediterranean and MIND diets in relation to dementia risk and cognitive function
Yuxi Liu, Yanping Li, Yuhan Li, Yu Shrike Zhang, Yunhe Wang, Xiao Gu, Yiyang Yue, Jae H Kang et al.. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2026-03-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Participants in the highest versus lowest MedDiet and MIND categories had 21% (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73-0.84) and 14% (HR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.81-0.91) lower dementia risk, respectively. Higher adherence was associated with 0.75 to 1.59 fewer years of cognitive aging, and 40% to 42% lower risk of SCD. Similar inverse associations were observed for improved adherence over 4 or 8 years. Adherence to Mediterranean and MIND diets was associated with cognitive benefits.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Liu, Y., Li, Y., Li, Y., Zhang, Y. S., Wang, Y., Gu, X., et al. (2026). Long‐term adherence and changes in the Mediterranean and MIND diets in relation to dementia risk and cognitive function. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71324
Vancouver
Liu Y, Li Y, Li Y, Zhang YS, Wang Y, Gu X, et al. Long‐term adherence and changes in the Mediterranean and MIND diets in relation to dementia risk and cognitive function. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2026. doi:10.1002/alz.71324. PMID: 41880148.
BibTeX
@article{liu2026-41880148,
author = {Liu, Yuxi and Li, Yanping and Li, Yuhan and Zhang, Yu Shrike and Wang, Yunhe and Gu, Xiao and Yue, Yiyang and Kang, Jae H and others},
title = {{Long‐term adherence and changes in the Mediterranean and MIND diets in relation to dementia risk and cognitive function}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1002/alz.71324},
pmid = {41880148},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.71324}
}
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Key findings
- Participants in the highest versus lowest MedDiet and MIND categories had 21% (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73-0.84) and 14% (HR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.81-0.91) lower dementia risk, respectively.
- Higher adherence was associated with 0.75 to 1.59 fewer years of cognitive aging, and 40% to 42% lower risk of SCD.
- Similar inverse associations were observed for improved adherence over 4 or 8 years.
- Adherence to Mediterranean and MIND diets was associated with cognitive benefits.
Why it matters
This observational study found that higher adherence to the Mediterranean and MIND diets was linked to lower dementia risk and slower cognitive aging. It cannot prove that these diets prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Effect sizeHR = 0.86
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 42 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 44 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (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 | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 12.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Dong D Wang holds only 2 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41880148) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 42 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 42 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 44 out of 100. |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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