Mediterranean diet and 3-year Alzheimer brain biomarker changes in middle-aged adults.

TitleMediterranean diet and 3-year Alzheimer brain biomarker changes in middle-aged adults.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsBerti V, Walters M, Sterling J, Quinn CG, Logue M, Andrews R, Matthews DC, Osorio RS, Pupi A, Vallabhajosula S, Isaacson RS, de Leon MJ, Mosconi L
JournalNeurology
Volume90
Issue20
Paginatione1789-e1798
Date Published2018 05 15
ISSN1526-632X
KeywordsAdult, Alzheimer Disease, Brain, Diet, Mediterranean, Female, Fluorodeoxyglucose F18, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Positron-Emission Tomography, Surveys and Questionnaires
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine in a 3-year brain imaging study the effects of higher vs lower adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet (MeDi) on Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarker changes (brain β-amyloid load via C-Pittsburgh compound B [PiB] PET and neurodegeneration via F-fluorodeoxyglucose [FDG] PET and structural MRI) in midlife.

METHODS: Seventy 30- to 60-year-old cognitively normal participants with clinical, neuropsychological, and dietary examinations and imaging biomarkers at least 2 years apart were examined. These included 34 participants with higher (MeDi+) and 36 with lower (MeDi-) MeDi adherence. Statistical parametric mapping and volumes of interest were used to compare AD biomarkers between groups at cross section and longitudinally.

RESULTS: MeDi groups were comparable for clinical and neuropsychological measures. At baseline, compared to the MeDi+ group, the MeDi- group showed reduced FDG-PET glucose metabolism (CMRglc) and higher PiB-PET deposition in AD-affected regions ( < 0.001). Longitudinally, the MeDi--group showed CMRglc declines and PiB increases in these regions, which were greater than those in the MeDi+ group ( < 0.001). No effects were observed on MRI. Higher MeDi adherence was estimated to provide 1.5 to 3.5 years of protection against AD.

CONCLUSION: Lower MeDi adherence was associated with progressive AD biomarker abnormalities in middle-aged adults. These data support further investigation of dietary interventions for protection against brain aging and AD.

DOI10.1212/WNL.0000000000005527
Alternate JournalNeurology
PubMed ID29653991
PubMed Central IDPMC5957301
Grant ListP30 AG008051 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States

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