Relationships of Dietary Patterns, Foods, and Micro- and Macronutrients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Late-Life Cognitive Disorders: A Systematic Review

Abstract

In the last decade, the association between diet and cognitive function or dementia has been largely investigated. In the present article, we systematically reviewed observational studies published in the last three years (2014-2016) on the relationship among dietary factors and late-life cognitive disorders at different levels of investigation (i.e., dietary patterns, foods and food-groups, and dietary micro- and macronutrients), and possible underlying mechanisms of the proposed associations. From the reviewed evidence, the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association guidelines for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cognitive decline due to AD pathology introduced some evidence suggesting a direct relation between diet and changes in the brain structure and activity. There was also accumulating evidence that combinations of foods and nutrients into certain patterns may act synergistically to provide stronger health effects than those conferred by their individual dietary components. In particular, higher adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet was associated with decreased cognitive decline. Moreover, also other emerging healthy dietary patterns such as the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and the Mediterranean-DASH diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diets were associated with slower rates of cognitive decline and significant reduction of AD rate. Furthermore, some foods or food groups traditionally considered harmful such as eggs and red meat have been partially rehabilitated, while there is still a negative correlation of cognitive functions with saturated fatty acids and a protective effect against cognitive decline of elevated fish consumption, high intake of monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly n-3 PUFA.

Gut microbiota, cognitive frailty and dementia in older individuals: a systematic review

“…Dietary patterns are strongly involved in the risk of developing AD and in its course, once the disease has established 111. Diets with patterns similar to Mediterranean and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diets have been associated with a reduced risk of AD and milder disease course, while Western-style diet represents an important risk factor 111.…”

“…Dietary patterns are strongly involved in the risk of developing AD and in its course, once the disease has established 111. Diets with patterns similar to Mediterranean and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diets have been associated with a reduced risk of AD and milder disease course, while Western-style diet represents an important risk factor 111. Among nutrients, saturated fatty acid consumption is associated with increased risk of AD, while an adequate dietary intake of polyphenols, unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins A, E and C may have a protective effect against the development of dementia 111,112.…”

Roasted Coffee Reduces β‐Amyloid Production by Increasing Proteasomal β‐Secretase Degradation in Human Neuroblastoma SH‐SY5Y Cells

“…Epidemiological studies show that coffee consumption may be associated with a lower risk for several neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease . Several cross‐sectional and longitudinal population‐based studies have suggested a protective effect of coffee use against late‐life cognitive impairment and decline . However, elucidation of the molecular mechanisms for the protective effects of coffee against these neurological disorders have not been fully explored.…”

Effective dietary recommendations could help to prevent age-related cognitive decline

“…Therefore, effective dietary strategies that can slow down cognitive decline and reduce the incidence of dementia need to be identified. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has been associated with slower cognitive decline and a lower risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in multiple observational studies 1. More recently, first observational analyses have shown that better adherence to the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet was associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline and reduced incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in US cohorts 2–4…”