Dietary patterns in middle age: effects on concurrent neurocognition and risk of age-related cognitive decline

Diet plays a critical role in cognitive integrity and decline in older adults. However, little is known about the relationship between diet and cognitive integrity in middle age.

To investigate the relationship between dietary patterns in healthy middle-aged adults and neurocognition both in middle age and later in life.

Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, the following electronic databases were searched: Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and PsychInfo.

Data from eligible articles was extracted by 2 reviewers.

Articles included in the systematic review were synthesized (based on the synthesis without meta-analysis reporting guidelines) and assessed for quality (using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and cross-sectional studies) by 2 reviewers.

Of 1558 studies identified, 34 met the eligibility criteria for inclusion. These comprised 9 cross-sectional studies, 23 longitudinal or prospective cohort studies, and 2 randomized controlled trials. Findings were mixed, with some studies reporting a significant positive relationship between adherence to various "healthy" dietary patterns and neurocognition, but others reporting no such relationship.

This systematic review demonstrated that adherence to the Mediterranean diet and other healthy dietary patterns in middle age can protect neurocognition later in life.

PROSPERO registration no. CRD42020153179.