Does the MIND diet decrease depression risk? A comparison with Mediterranean diet in the SUN cohort

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Psychiatry
• Epidemiology
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide.
• Dietary patterns are increasingly recognized as modifiable risk factors for mental health.
• The Mediterranean diet and the MIND diet are associated with various health benefits, including cognitive function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prospective association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet.
• To evaluate the relationship between these dietary patterns and the risk of developing depression.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 15,980 adults, initially depression-free, was followed for a median of 10.4 years.
• Dietary intake was assessed at baseline using a validated food-frequency questionnaire.
• Cox regression models were employed to analyze the association between diet adherence and incident depression.

Main Results:

• No association was found between adherence to the MIND diet and incident depression.
• Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduced risk of depression (HR 0.75, p < 0.01).
• Increased consumption of fruits and nuts, and avoidance of fast/fried foods, were linked to lower depression risk.

Conclusions:

• The Mediterranean diet, but not the MIND diet, demonstrated a significant association with reduced depression risk.
• Specific dietary components, such as fruits, nuts, and reduced fast food intake, may play a role in depression prevention.