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The intricate interplay between dietary habits and cognitive function: insights from the gut-brain axis
Ruyi Zhang, Meiya Zhang, Pengyu Wang. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2025-01-29
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The intricate relationship between dietary habits and cognitive function is gaining increasing attention, with a focus on the gut-brain axis as a modifiable target for intervention. This review synthesizes evidence on the impact of dietary patterns, particularly the Mediterranean diet, plant-based diets, and low-carbohydrate diets, on cognitive health. These diets, rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, and neuroprotective nutrients, are suggested to slow cognitive decline and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disorders through mechanisms such as reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, and enhanced neurogenesis. The Mediterranean diet has been associated with improved cognitive performance and a delay in cognitive decline in elderly populations. However, challenges in dietary intervention implementation, including adherence and individual variability, remain. Future research must adopt a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating long-term, large-scale, multicenter randomized controlled trials to assess the enduring impacts of various dietary patterns on cognitive function, considering socioeconomic and cultural factors. This review underscores the potential of dietary interventions to prevent and mitigate cognitive impairment, ultimately aiming to improve quality of life.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Zhang, R., Zhang, M., & Wang, P. (2025). The intricate interplay between dietary habits and cognitive function: insights from the gut-brain axis. Frontiers in Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1539355
Vancouver
Zhang R, Zhang M, Wang P. The intricate interplay between dietary habits and cognitive function: insights from the gut-brain axis. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2025. doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1539355. PMID: 39944956.
BibTeX
@article{zhang2025-39944956,
author = {Zhang, Ruyi and Zhang, Meiya and Wang, Pengyu},
title = {{The intricate interplay between dietary habits and cognitive function: insights from the gut-brain axis}},
journal = {Frontiers in Nutrition},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3389/fnut.2025.1539355},
pmid = {39944956},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1539355}
}
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Key findings
- The Mediterranean diet has been associated with improved cognitive performance and a delay in cognitive decline in elderly populations.
Why it matters
This review suggests that diets such as the Mediterranean diet may slow cognitive decline and reduce risk of neurodegenerative disorders through reduced inflammation and oxidative stress. It notes that challenges with adherence and individual variability remain, and calls for long-term randomized trials.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 48/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in Nutrition) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Frontiers in Nutrition: journal h-index 147 (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 | 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 | 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 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 24 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 20.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 24 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Pengyu Wang: h-index 12 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Hubei University of Chinese Medicine: institution h-index 165 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39944956) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 48 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1539355
- PubMed: 39944956
- Original source →
- Free full text: Frontiers in Nutrition →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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