Certain diets are linked to better cognitive performance, new study finds
The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee weighed the available evidence on dietary patterns associated with the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia but said there were not enough data to make a recommendation. In response, a new paper by U.S. and European researchers addresses ambiguities across studies and harmonizes key data to shed light on how different diets may shape cognitive…
A recent study analyzing data from 17,368 participants across various diet patterns has found that adherence to certain diets is linked to better cognitive performance across time periods. However, the study did not find significant associations between these diets and long-term cognitive decline or dementia. The research, published in the Journal of Nutrition, examined data from studies in Europe and the United States, focusing on seven dietary patterns including the Mediterranean diet, DASH, and MIND.
Cross-sectional analysis revealed that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet, DASH diet, and MIND diet was associated with better global cognition and executive function. However, the authors caution that these cross-sectional findings do not necessarily indicate positive outcomes over time, or longitudinally. Longitudinal analysis showed only a positive association between MIND diet adherence and executive function in three U.S. cohorts.
The researchers stress that dietary quality likely supports cognitive health but may require integration with other lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, for long-term benefits. The study's lead author, Lyn Steffen, notes that their findings align with a previous randomized clinical trial showing no significant differences in cognition between those consuming the MIND diet and those on a control diet.
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