AD patients may benefit from Mediterranean diet
2021
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is characterized by a loss of brain volume and an overall cognitive impairment. On the cellular level, ß-amyloid and phosphorylated tau protein (pTau) serve as AD-typical biomarkers. Therapies mostly fail to improve disease progression and the cause remains unclear. To assess if a Mediterranean diet which is characterized by high amounts of fruits, veggies, fish and olive oil but low in red meat and dairy, can contribute positively to the progression, patients with and without (severe) cognitive symptoms were incorporated into the study. The analyses comprised a diet questionnaire, MRT to assess brain volume, determination of AD-related biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid and an extensive neuropsychological battery. The results show that following a Mediterranean diet seems to relate to a larger grey matter volume, better memory and less amyloid and pTau.
Mediterranean diet, Alzheimer Disease biomarkers, and brain atrophy in old age
Tommaso Ballarini
Added on: 05-17-2022
[1] https://n.neurology.org/content/96/24/e2920[2] https://www.bionity.com/de/news/1171011/mediterrane-ernaehrung-kann-vor-gedaechtnisverlust-und-demenz-schuetzen.html
