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Weight loss and metabolic improvements dominate the microbiome response in the MIND diet intervention: a randomized controlled trial
Robin M. Voigt, Adit Chaudhary, Ankur D Naqib, Phillip A. Engen, Darbaz Adnan, Klodian Dhana, Stefan J. Green, Michelle Villanueva et al.. Alzheimer s & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, 2026-04-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Both groups exhibited significant, transient microbiome remodeling at Year 1 (the period of most active weight loss). The control group demonstrated a broad range of altered metabolic pathways, whereas the MIND diet group showed only one, suggesting a functional buffering effect of the MIND diet. Prospective modeling independent of diet group revealed that a poorer cognitive trajectory was significantly associated with increased inositol degradation (PWY-7237) and purine nucleotide salvage (PWY66-409); conversely, a better cognitive trajectory was associated with increased degradation of deoxy sugars (FUC-RHAMCAT-PWY). Caloric restriction, weight loss, and host metabolic improvement are the dominant factors shaping the intestinal microbiome, overshadowing diet-specific taxonomic shifts. The MIND diet appeared to provide a modest stabilizing effect on the microbial functional profile against perturbations during active weight loss; however, these dietary associations did not persist in covariate-adjusted models, suggesting that host metabolic improvements remained the primary driver of functional shifts.
Key findings
- Both groups exhibited significant, transient microbiome remodeling at Year 1 (the period of most active weight loss).
- The control group demonstrated a broad range of altered metabolic pathways, whereas the MIND diet group showed only one, suggesting a functional buffering effect of the MIND diet.
- Prospective modeling independent of diet group revealed that a poorer cognitive trajectory was significantly associated with increased inositol degradation (PWY-7237) and purine nucleotide salvage (PWY66-409); conversely, a better cognitive trajectory was associated with increased degradation of deoxy sugars (FUC-RHAMCAT-PWY).
- Caloric restriction, weight loss, and host metabolic improvement are the dominant factors shaping the intestinal microbiome, overshadowing diet-specific taxonomic shifts.
- The MIND diet appeared to provide a modest stabilizing effect on the microbial functional profile against perturbations during active weight loss; however, these dietary associations did not persist in covariate-adjusted models, suggesting that host metabolic improvements remained the primary driver of functional shifts.
Why it matters
In this randomized controlled trial, caloric restriction, weight loss and host metabolic improvement were the dominant factors shaping the intestinal microbiome, overshadowing diet-specific changes. The MIND diet's associations with microbial function did not persist in covariate-adjusted models, so no clear cognitive benefit from the diet was established.
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Study details
- Study designrandomized controlled trial
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 54/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. 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 (Alzheimer s & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions: journal h-index 84 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial |
| 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 | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 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 | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Ali Keshavarzian: h-index 96 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41958469) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 54 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1002/trc2.70239
- PubMed: 41958469
- Original source →
- Free full text: Alzheimer s & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions →
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
Voigt, R. M., Chaudhary, A., Naqib, A. D., Engen, P. A., Adnan, D., Dhana, K., et al. (2026). Weight loss and metabolic improvements dominate the microbiome response in the MIND diet intervention: a randomized controlled trial. Alzheimer s & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions. https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.70239
Vancouver
Voigt RM, Chaudhary A, Naqib AD, Engen PA, Adnan D, Dhana K, et al. Weight loss and metabolic improvements dominate the microbiome response in the MIND diet intervention: a randomized controlled trial. Alzheimer s & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions. 2026. doi:10.1002/trc2.70239. PMID: 41958469.
BibTeX
@article{voigt2026-41958469,
author = {Voigt, Robin M. and Chaudhary, Adit and Naqib, Ankur D and Engen, Phillip A. and Adnan, Darbaz and Dhana, Klodian and Green, Stefan J. and Villanueva, Michelle and others},
title = {{Weight loss and metabolic improvements dominate the microbiome response in the MIND diet intervention: a randomized controlled trial}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia Translational Research \& Clinical Interventions},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1002/trc2.70239},
pmid = {41958469},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.70239}
}
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Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
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