Mediterranean diet failed to protect the brain in a new study |
We’ve long championed the Mediterranean diet for its brain-protective benefits, citing studies linking it to reduced dementia risk and better cognitive function. But a new 14-month study of 185 older African American adults tells a different story, with participants showing no cognitive improvements despite successfully following the diet and losing weight.
The study focused on a population averaging age 66 years with obesity. While participants following the Mediterranean diet lost an average of 8.3 lb (3.8 kg) and significantly improved their diet adherence, cognitive tests showed no meaningful changes compared to the control group.
“We saw that the ability of diet to improve cognitive health in older African American adults was extremely understudied even though they may be at higher risk for cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer's disease,” explained Dr. Andrew McLeod, first author and researcher at the University of Illinois Chicago.
So why the departure from previous research? “The study only ran for 14 months, and cognitive change is slow and may take years to show up,” noted Dr. Rehan Aziz, geriatric psychiatrist at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “Also, some benefits may rely on deeper metabolic changes — like improved insulin sensitivity — which didn’t shift meaningfully in this group,” Aziz added.
The researchers believe longer studies would most likely show cognitive benefits, with weight loss and improved cardiovascular health supporting brain function over time. Until then, a one-size-fits-all recommendation to follow a Mediterranean diet may not be appropriate for all populations.
For more on why these findings differ from previous research, jump to “Mediterranean diet may not improve brain health in all aging populations.”
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