Mediterranean diet and brain functional connectivity in a population without dementia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Nutritional Science
• Gerontology

Background:

• Lifestyle factors like diet influence cognitive function and brain measures.
• The relationship between the Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) and functional connectivity (FC) in non-demented populations remains under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) and resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) in individuals without dementia.

Main Methods:

• 105 non-demented adults (mean age 63) underwent resting-state fMRI.
• Dietary intake was assessed via 24-h recalls; MeDi adherence was quantified using the MedDietScore.
• Multivariable linear regression analyzed associations between MedDietScore and rs-FC.

Main Results:

• Significant associations were found between MedDietScore and rs-FC in fronto-parietal and temporo-occipital regions.
• Positive associations linked MedDietScore to FC between medial prefrontal cortex and left postcentral/supramarginal gyri.
• Negative associations linked MedDietScore to FC between medial visual and right posterior temporal gyri.

Conclusions:

• Higher MeDi adherence correlates with altered rs-FC in brain regions vital for cognitive processes.
• Findings support a beneficial role of MeDi in brain aging and suggest its potential clinical implications for the aging population.
• Resting-state fMRI shows promise as a biomarker in nutritional neuroscience for assessing brain aging.