Mediterranean diet and 3-year Alzheimer brain biomarker changes in middle-aged adults. (15th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Berti, Valentina; Walters, Michelle; Sterling, Joanna; Quinn, Crystal G.; Logue, Michelle; Andrews, Randolph; Matthews, Dawn C.; Osorio, Ricardo S.; Pupi, Alberto; Vallabhajosula, Shankar; Isaacson, Richard S.; de Leon, Mony J.; Mosconi, Lisa
• Is Part Of: Neurology. Volume 90:Number 20(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-05-15
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000005527
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3878

Abstract

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 11 C-Pittsburgh compound B [PiB] PET and neurodegeneration via 18 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 ( p < 0.001). Longitudinally, the MeDi−-group showed CMRglc declines and PiB increases in these regions, which were greater than those in the MeDi+ group ( p interaction < 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.