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Mind Diet Adherence and Cognitive Performance in the Framingham Heart Study
Melo van Lent D, O'Donnell A, Beiser AS, Vasan RS, DeCarli CS, Scarmeas N, Wagner M, Jacques PF et al.. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, 2021-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Adherence to the Mediterranean-DASH for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet has previously been associated with cognitive decline and dementia. To our knowledge, no prior study has investigated the association between the MIND diet and measures of brain volume, silent brain infarcts (SBIs), or brain atrophy. Objective We evaluated whether adherence to the MIND diet associated with superior cognitive function, larger brain volumes, fewer SBIs, and less cognitive decline in the community-based Framingham Heart Study.
Key findings
- To our knowledge, no prior study has investigated the association between the MIND diet and measures of brain volume, silent brain infarcts (SBIs), or brain atrophy.
- Objective We evaluated whether adherence to the MIND diet associated with superior cognitive function, larger brain volumes, fewer SBIs, and less cognitive decline in the community-based Framingham Heart Study.
- Methods 2,092 participants (mean±SD, age 61±9) completed Food Frequency Questionnaires, averaged across a maximum of 3-time points (examination cycles 5, 6, and 7), cognitive testing at examination cycle 7 (present study baseline: 1998-2001) and after a mean±SD of 6.6±1.1 years from baseline (n = 1,584).
- A subset of participants also completed brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at examination cycle 7 (n = 1,904).
Why it matters
This study evaluated whether adherence to the MIND diet is associated with better cognitive function, larger brain volumes, fewer silent brain infarcts, and less cognitive decline. It does not prove that the diet prevents or treats Alzheimer's disease, only that an association was found.
Study details
- Participants1,584
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 54/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Alzheimer s Disease: journal h-index 218 (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 | 2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,584 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 | 4 / 7 | Cited 63 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.0 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 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 | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Matthew Paul Pase: h-index 49 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 13 institution(s) in 4 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 34092629) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 54 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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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
Melo van Lent, D., O'Donnell, A., Beiser, A. S., Vasan, R. S., DeCarli, C. S., Scarmeas, N., et al. (2021). Mind Diet Adherence and Cognitive Performance in the Framingham Heart Study. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-201238
Vancouver
Melo van Lent D, O'Donnell A, Beiser AS, Vasan RS, DeCarli CS, Scarmeas N, et al. Mind Diet Adherence and Cognitive Performance in the Framingham Heart Study. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. 2021. doi:10.3233/jad-201238. PMID: 34092629.
BibTeX
@article{melovanlent2021-34092629,
author = {Melo van Lent, D. and O'Donnell, A. and Beiser, A. S. and Vasan, R. S. and DeCarli, C. S. and Scarmeas, N. and Wagner, M. and Jacques, P. F. and others},
title = {{Mind Diet Adherence and Cognitive Performance in the Framingham Heart Study}},
journal = {Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.3233/jad-201238},
pmid = {34092629},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-201238}
}
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