MIND diet associated with less hippocampal sclerosis: A Community‐Based Neuropathologic Study. (20th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Agarwal, Puja; Agrawal, Sonal; Cherian, Laurel J; Aggarwal, Neelum T.; James, Bryan D; Holland, Thomas Monroe; Bennett, David A; Barnes, Lisa L.; Leurgans, Sue E.; Schneider, Julie A
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer's & dementia. Volume 18(2022)Supplement 11
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-12-20
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease -- Periodicals; Alzheimer Disease -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; Démence; Maladie d'Alzheimer; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.83
• DOI: 10.1002/alz.067178
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1552-5260

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Mediterranean‐DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet is associated with slower cognitive decline, reduced Alzheimer's dementia risk, and greater brain volume. We have also shown MIND diet is associated with less Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Hippocampal sclerosis (HS, severe neuronal loss and astrogliosis in CA1/subiculum), is increasingly recognized as an important pathologic finding associated with TDP‐43 ("LATE‐NC), AD pathology, and dementia. The pathogenesis of HS is not clear but may be neurodegenerative and/or vascular. This study investigates the association of the MIND diet with hippocampal sclerosis in autopsied brains from a community sample. Methods: The study was conducted among 581 deceased participants (age at death = 91.3 ± 6.1 years; 72% female, education = 14.8 ± 2.8 years) of the Rush Memory and Aging Project. The coronal section of the mid hippocampus CA1 and subiculum were assessed for severe neuronal loss and gliosis to define HS. Mean MIND diet scores were obtained from a validated food frequency questionnaire administered annually during follow‐up years prior to death. We used logistic models adjusted for age at death, sex, education, and total calories to examine associations of MIND diet (continuous and grouped in tertiles) with HS. Further models controlled for APOE‐ε4 status, and other pathologies including global AD pathology, arteriolosclerosis, and LATE‐NC stage. Results: High and moderate adherence to MIND diet was associated with 69% (OR (95% CI) = 0.31(0.15, 0.64)) and 54% (OR (95% CI) = 0.46 (0.24, 0.79)) lower odds of HS. After adjusting for APOE‐ε4 status and AD pathology, the association was retained (T3 vs. T1: OR (95% CI) = 0.30 (0.15, 0.62); T2 vs. T1: (95% CI) = 0.46 (0.24, 0.87); p for trend = 0.0007). Further adjusting for arteriolosclerosis and LATE‐NC did not appreciably change the effect estimates. Conclusion: The MIND diet is associated with a lower likelihood of hippocampal sclerosis. Further studies are needed to more fully understand the role of diet on hippocampal structure and function in the context of AD and related brain pathologies.