The Mediterranean diet may have a neuroprotective effect against disability caused by multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the brain and central nervous system and whose symptoms include fatigue, mobility problems, and numbness.
Around 2.8 million people are living with MS worldwide, and women are twice as likely as men to have the condition. Studies show that certain diets and other lifestyle factors can improve the quality of life of MS patients.
A paper now presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology shows that greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline, which affects more than half of people with MS.
The cause of MS is unknown and there is currently no cure. Treatments generally focus on relieving symptoms and slowing the progression.
The Mediterranean diet is a varied diet that contains minimally processed foods, limited amounts of red meat, and moderate amounts of dairy and poultry. It is rich in fish, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fruits and monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids such as olive oil.
For the study, researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York (USA) recruited 563 people with MS. Each of them completed a questionnaire to determine their adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Scores ranged from 0 to 14.
Participants were divided into several groups: those with a score of 0 to 4 were less adherent to the Mediterranean diet, while those with a score of nine or higher were more adherent of the diet.
They also underwent three tests to assess their thinking and memory skills. From these tests, they found that 108 participants, or 19.2%, had cognitive impairment.
Mechanisms by which the Mediterranean diet might help protect cognition include possible anti-inflammatory or antioxidant effects
After analyzing the results, the researchers found that patients who followed the Mediterranean diet more had a 20% lower risk of cognitive decline than those who followed it less.
The relationship held after controlling for demographic factors and health factors, including sleep disorders, diabetes, and hypertension.
Mechanisms by which the Mediterranean diet might help protect cognition are speculated to include possible anti-inflammatory or antioxidant effects, reduction of comorbidities that could affect cognition, such as hypertension, and substitution of healthier foods for foods that may contribute to cognitive impairment. co-morbidities or an adverse impact on cognition.