A comparative study of the EAT-Lancet diet and the Mediterranean diet in relation to neuroimaging biomarkers and cognitive performance

The impact of the sustainable EAT-Lancet planetary health diet on brain and cognitive health remains unclear. This study compared the impact of the EAT-Lancet diet with the well-established cognitive-beneficial Mediterranean diet (MeDi) in relation to neuroimaging biomarkers and cognitive performance among older adults.

The study included 615 dementia-free 70-year-olds from the Swedish population-based Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort study. Dietary adherence was measured with EAT-Lancet diet and MeDi scores. Neuroimaging measures included cortical thickness, hippocampal volume, small vessel disease, and deep learning-derived brain age. Cognitive performance was assessed with a global cognitive composite score.

In multi-adjusted models, higher adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet was associated with higher total mean cortical thickness, and thicker cortex in Alzheimer's disease-signature regions, while a higher adherence to the MeDi was associated with better cognitive performance.

The results indicate the beneficial effects of both the EAT-Lancet and the MeDi on brain health.

There were no indications of detrimental effects of adhering to the EAT-Lancet diet. Adhering to the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet was associated with thicker cortex. Results confirm links between the Mediterranean diet and better cognitive function.