Adherence to a MIND-Like Dietary Pattern, Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution, and MRI-Based Measures of Brain Volume: The Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study-MRI

Abstract

Background: Previous studies suggest that certain dietary patterns and constituents may be beneficial to brain health. Airborne exposures to fine particulate matter [particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ( )] are neurotoxic, but the combined effects of dietary patterns and have not been investigated. Objectives: We examined whether previously reported association between exposure and lower white matter volume (WMV) differed between women whose usual diet during the last 3 months before baseline was more or less consistent with a Mediterranean–DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND)-like diet, a dietary pattern that may slow neurodegenerative changes. Methods: This study included 1,302 U.S. women who were 65–79 y old and free of dementia in the period 1996–1998 (baseline). In the period 2005–2006, structural brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed to estimate normal-appearing brain volumes (excluding areas with evidence of small vessel ischemic disease). Baseline MIND diet scores were derived from a food frequency questionnaire. Three-year average exposure prior to MRI was estimated using geocoded participant addresses and a spatiotemporal model. Results: Average total and temporal lobe WMVs were [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.001, 1.48) and (95% CI: 0.002, 0.37) higher, respectively, with each 0.5-point increase in the MIND score and were (95% CI: , ) and (95% CI: , ) lower, respectively, with each interquartile range (IQR) ( ) increase in . The inverse association between per IQR and WMV was stronger ( ) among women with MIND scores below the median (for total WMV, ; 95% CI: , ), but absent in women with scores above the median ( ; 95% CI: , 3.72), with similar patterns for WMV in the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes. For total cerebral and hippocampus brain volumes or WMV in the corpus callosum, the associations with were not significantly different for women with high MIND scores and women with low MIND scores. Discussion: In this cohort of U.S. women, exposure was associated with lower MRI-based WMV, an indication of brain aging, only among women whose usual diet was less consistent with the MIND-like dietary pattern at baseline. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8036

Fine Particulate Matter and Parkinson Disease Risk Among Medicare Beneficiaries

“…However, we cannot rule out the possibility that regional differences could be partly due to gene-environment interaction 48 and/or interactions with various nongenetic factors including diet. 49 The differential effects across regions emphasize the value of taking a geographic approach in large studies. Thus, we encourage the application of this approach in other parts of the world, including densely populated regions in South Asia where PM 2.5 levels can reach ;60 μg/m 3 on average 50 (compared with 14 μg/m 3 for the contiguous United States at the time of our study).…”

Associations of the Mediterranean‐DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet with brain structural markers and their changes

“…The MIND diet has been linked to slower cognitive decline 16 and lower risks of all‐cause dementia 17 and Parkinson's disease, 18 but only several cross‐sectional studies have assessed its associations with brain structural markers. In 1302 participants of the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study, adherence to a MIND‐like diet was associated with higher total and temporal lobe white matter volumes 20 . In 175 older adults in France, a higher MIND diet score was associated with lower diffusivity values in the splenium of the corpus callosum 21 .…”

“…However, associations of the MIND diet with brain structural markers remain unclear and inconsistent, and elucidating these relationships is crucial for understanding the mechanisms linking this dietary pattern to brain aging. Among 1302 Women's Health Initiative participants, a higher MIND diet score was associated with higher total and temporal lobe white matter volumes 20 . In 175 French individuals, a higher MIND diet score was associated with lower diffusivity in the splenium of the corpus callosum 21 .…”

Associations of Midlife Diet Quality with Incident Dementia and Brain Structure: Findings from the UK Biobank Study

“…Accordingly, we found that all considered diet quality scores were associated with larger volumes of several specific regions (e.g., parietal and temporal cortex, and hippocampus), but not with total volumes of the total brain (i.e., GM and WM), GM, and WM. To date, limited studies have explored the associations of diet quality scores including MDS 21 48-50 , RFS 50 , MIND 44 51 52 , and AHEI-2010 53 with brain structures, mainly among older adults with a relatively small sample size 21 44 48 49 54 , and reported mixed results. With over 25,000 middle-aged and older adults, this study revealed discrepancies in various diet quality scores.…”