Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: The world’s population aged over 60 years is predicted to double in the next 50 years. Increased age makes us vulnerable to various neurodegenerative pathologies among them cognitive impairment and dementia. The economic and social burden of caring for persons with cognitive decline is increasing, and to date there are no effective pharmacologic agents to prevent or treat the disease or even its precursor stages. Identifying simple and effective interventions, like modifiable risk factors to prevent cognitive decline and dementia is likely to be an important strategy for delaying the onset, and reducing the number of patients is a major public health priority. There is growing evidence that diet -a modifiable risk factor- could be one component of an effective prevention strategy against cognitive decline, although no firm conclusion can be drawn at this point. A healthy Mediterranean diet (MeDi), rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, olive oil, and fish may be neuroprotective. Greater adherence to the MeDi is associated with slower rate of cognitive decline and lower risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, but findings are conflicting, mainly due to significant heterogeneity between studies in terms of populations studied and methods used to assess diet and cognition. All these reasons highlight the need for randomized clinical trials and for further research.
Source: The Medical-Surgical Journal
Language: English
Topic: Nutritional Studies and Diet
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2930005289