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62/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 62 out of 100. Prevention and risk

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

A growing body of evidence suggests that adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) may protect against cognitive decline and dementia. Many epidemiologic studies and several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have found positive effects of the MD on cognitive function, but findings remain inconsistent. The aim of this systematic review was to provide an update on the current knowledge of the effects of the MD on cognitive function, cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease (AD), and all-type dementia. Five databases were searched-PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and PsycINFO (1806 to 25 May 2015)-with the use of prespecified criteria. Human studies that were published in English without any restriction on study type, population assessed, intervention period, follow-up time, or publication date, and that examined the association between adherence to the MD and cognitive function or dementia symptoms (as measured by cognitive function tests), were included. Only primary publication types were included. Thirty-two studies from 25 unique cohorts, including 5 RCTs and 27 observational studies, met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies showed that the MD was associated with improved cognitive function, a decreased risk of cognitive impairment or decreased risk of dementia, or AD. Three studies found no correlation between the MD and AD, 3 further studies found no association between the MD and cognitive impairment, and 5 studies found no association between the MD and cognitive function. There was large heterogeneity, and studies differed with regard to quality. Based on the findings and the limitations in study design, we conclude that adherence to the MD is associated with better cognitive performance. However, it should be noted that the majority of findings come from epidemiologic studies that provide evidence for a correlation between the MD and cognition but not for a cause-and-effect relation. More controlled trials are required to establish a causational relation.

Key findings

A growing body of evidence suggests that adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) may protect against cognitive decline and dementia.
The majority of studies showed that the MD was associated with improved cognitive function, a decreased risk of cognitive impairment or decreased risk of dementia, or AD.
Based on the findings and the limitations in study design, we conclude that adherence to the MD is associated with better cognitive performance.

Why it matters

This systematic review found that in most studies, adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with better cognitive performance and a decreased risk of cognitive impairment, dementia, or Alzheimer's disease, though some studies found no association. The authors note limitations in study design and do not claim the diet prevents dementia.

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Study details

Study designsystematic review
Evidence strengthHigh

How this study scored 62/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.))
Journal's citation record	2 / 4	Advances in Nutrition: journal h-index 187 (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	1 / 5	2016 — within 20 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	0 / 3	No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
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	A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here
Times cited	6 / 7	Cited 466 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	4 / 5	38.8 citations a year over 12 year(s) since 2016
Impact for its field and year	3 / 6	Cited 6.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	3 / 6	Cited by 21 other studies in this library
Still being cited	3 / 4	Cited 129 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	2 / 4	Last-listed author Elena Philippou: h-index 28 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	1 / 3	King's College London: institution h-index 1,348 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	1 / 3	OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 2 countries
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 27633105)
Free to read	0 / 2	Behind a paywall — scores zero
Total	62 / 100	—

What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →

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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

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APA 7th

Petersson, S. D., & Philippou, E. (2016). Mediterranean Diet, Cognitive Function, and Dementia: A Systematic Review of the Evidence. Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.). https://doi.org/10.3945/an.116.012138

Vancouver

Petersson SD, Philippou E. Mediterranean Diet, Cognitive Function, and Dementia: A Systematic Review of the Evidence. Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.). 2016. doi:10.3945/an.116.012138. PMID: 27633105.

BibTeX

@article{petersson2016-27633105,
  author  = {Petersson, S. D. and Philippou, E.},
  title   = {{Mediterranean Diet, Cognitive Function, and Dementia: A Systematic Review of the Evidence}},
  journal = {Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.)},
  year    = {2016},
  doi     = {10.3945/an.116.012138},
  pmid    = {27633105},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.3945/an.116.012138}
}

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