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The Association between the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern and Cognitive Health: A Systematic Review
Aridi YS, Walker JL, Wright ORL.. Nutrients, 2017-06-28
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The ageing population is accompanied by increased rates of cognitive decline and dementia. Not only does cognitive decline have a profound impact on an individual's health and quality of life, but also on that of their caregivers. The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been known to aid in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. It has been recently linked to better cognitive function in the elderly population. The purpose of this review was to compile evidence based data that examined the effect of adherence to the MD on cognitive function and the risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer's disease. This review followed PRISMA guidelines and was conducted using four databases and resulted in 31 articles of interest. Cross-sectional studies and cohort studies in the non-Mediterranean region showed mixed results. However, cohort studies in the Mediterranean region and randomized controlled trials showed more cohesive outcomes of the beneficial effect of the MD on cognitive function. Although more standardized and in-depth studies are needed to strengthen the existing body of evidence, results from this review indicate that the Mediterranean diet could play a major role in cognitive health and risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Key findings
- Cross-sectional studies and cohort studies in the non-Mediterranean region showed mixed results.
- Although more standardized and in-depth studies are needed to strengthen the existing body of evidence, results from this review indicate that the Mediterranean diet could play a major role in cognitive health and risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Why it matters
This review found mixed results in non-Mediterranean cross-sectional and cohort studies, but more consistent beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet on cognitive function in Mediterranean cohort studies and randomized controlled trials. It concludes that more standardized and in-depth studies are needed, so it does not establish that the diet prevents Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 63/100
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 (Nutrients) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Nutrients: journal h-index 331 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question (from PubMed type “Systematic Review”) |
| 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 | 2 / 5 | 2017 — within 10 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 210 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 19.1 citations a year over 11 year(s) since 2017 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.0× 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 | 3 / 4 | Cited 51 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Olivia R. L. Wright: h-index 26 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | The University of Queensland: institution h-index 1,516 (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 28657600) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 63 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Aridi, Y. S., Walker, J. L., & Wright, O. R. L. (2017). The Association between the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern and Cognitive Health: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9070674
Vancouver
Aridi YS, Walker JL, Wright ORL. The Association between the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern and Cognitive Health: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2017. doi:10.3390/nu9070674. PMID: 28657600.
BibTeX
@article{aridi2017-28657600,
author = {Aridi, Y. S. and Walker, J. L. and Wright, O. R. L.},
title = {{The Association between the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern and Cognitive Health: A Systematic Review}},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.3390/nu9070674},
pmid = {28657600},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9070674}
}
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