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Mediterranean diet and dementia: MRI marker evidence from meta-analysis
Xiaojie Wang, Zhiyao Xin, Xiuwen Li, Keying Wu, Wanxin Wang, Lan Guo, Li Wang, Xin Mo et al.. European journal of medical research, 2025-01-15
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
A total of 20 relevant studies involving 44,893 individuals were included in the analysis. Thirteen cross-sectional studies included a total of 42,955 participants. A meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies revealed significant associations between MeDi and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) (β = - 0.03, 95% CI = - 0.05- - 0.01, P = 0.02). However, there were no significant associations found between MeDi and total brain volume (TBV) (β = - 0.03, 95% CI = - 0.20-0.13, P = 0.71), gray matter volume (GMV) (β = 0.26, 95% CI = - 0.19-0.71, P = 0.26), white matter volume (WMV) (β = - 0.09, 95% CI = - 0.40-0.22, P = 0.58), or hippocampal volume (HCV) (β = - 1.02, 95% CI = - 7.74-9.79, P = 0.82). In the longitudinal analysis, seven prospective studies with an average follow-up period ranging from 1.5 to 9 years and involving 1,938 participants. The combined effect size of MeDi showed no significant association with TBV or GMV. Adherence to MeDi may be associated with reduced WMH in older adults. This suggests that MeDi may affect brain health and highlights the need for further research into its role as a modifiable lifestyle factor that might potentially modify the risk of dementia.
Key findings
- A total of 20 relevant studies involving 44,893 individuals were included in the analysis.
- Thirteen cross-sectional studies included a total of 42,955 participants.
- A meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies revealed significant associations between MeDi and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) (β = - 0.03, 95% CI = - 0.05- - 0.01, P = 0.02).
- However, there were no significant associations found between MeDi and total brain volume (TBV) (β = - 0.03, 95% CI = - 0.20-0.13, P = 0.71), gray matter volume (GMV) (β = 0.26, 95% CI = - 0.19-0.71, P = 0.26), white matter volume (WMV) (β = - 0.09, 95% CI = - 0.40-0.22, P = 0.58), or hippocampal volume (HCV) (β = - 1.02, 95% CI = - 7.74-9.79, P = 0.82).
- In the longitudinal analysis, seven prospective studies with an average follow-up period ranging from 1.5 to 9 years and involving 1,938 participants.
Why it matters
This analysis of 20 studies found that closer adherence to a Mediterranean diet was linked to less white matter hyperintensity, a marker of small vessel damage in the brain. However, it found no significant link between the diet and total brain volume, gray matter volume, white matter volume, or hippocampal volume, and the authors say more research is needed.
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Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Participants42,955
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 64/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (European journal of medical research) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | European journal of medical research: journal h-index 80 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 4 / 4 | 42,955 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 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 14 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 11.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 7 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 14 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Ciyong Lu: h-index 45 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Sun Yat-sen University: institution h-index 851 (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 39815306) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 64 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s40001-025-02276-1
- PubMed: 39815306
- Original source →
- Free full text: European journal of medical research →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Wang, X., Xin, Z., Li, X., Wu, K., Wang, W., Guo, L., et al. (2025). Mediterranean diet and dementia: MRI marker evidence from meta-analysis. European journal of medical research. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02276-1
Vancouver
Wang X, Xin Z, Li X, Wu K, Wang W, Guo L, et al. Mediterranean diet and dementia: MRI marker evidence from meta-analysis. European journal of medical research. 2025. doi:10.1186/s40001-025-02276-1. PMID: 39815306.
BibTeX
@article{wang2025-39815306,
author = {Wang, Xiaojie and Xin, Zhiyao and Li, Xiuwen and Wu, Keying and Wang, Wanxin and Guo, Lan and Wang, Li and Mo, Xin and others},
title = {{Mediterranean diet and dementia: MRI marker evidence from meta-analysis}},
journal = {European journal of medical research},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1186/s40001-025-02276-1},
pmid = {39815306},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02276-1}
}
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