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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Elderly people who ate lots of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereal and fish and generally avoided red meat and poultry and who were physically active had a lower risk of Alzheimer disease, according to a new study. In a second study, adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with slower cognitive decline, but was not associated with a decreased risk of dementia.
Nikolaos Scarmeas, M.D., of Columbia University Medical Center, New York, and colleagues examined the combined association of physical activity and dietary habits on the risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) or dementia. The study included two groups consisting of 1,880 elderly residents of New York City who did not have dementia at the start of the study. Diet and physical activity information was available for all participants. Standardized neurological and neuropsychological measures were administered approximately every 1.5 years from 1992 through 2006.
The participants were measured for their adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet and their physical activity. Higher diet scores were awarded for greater consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, and fish, lower consumption of meat and dairy products, and a higher ratio of monounsaturated fats to saturated fats and mild to moderate alcohol consumption.
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During the average follow up period of 5.4 years, 282 developed AD. The researchers found that more physical activity was associated with lower risk for AD. "Compared with physically inactive individuals, report of some physical activity was associated with a 29 to 41 percent lower risk of developing AD, while report of much physical activity was associated with a 37 to 50 percent lower risk," the authors wrote.
When considered simultaneously, both physical activity and Mediterranean diet adherence were significantly associated with AD incidence. "Belonging to the middle diet adherence tertile was associated with a 2 percent to 14 percent risk reduction, Researchers were quoted as saying, while belonging to the highest diet adherence tertile was associated with a 32 percent to 40 percent reduced risk. Similarly, compared with individuals with no physical activity, individuals reporting some physical activity had a 25 percent to 38 percent lower risk for AD, while individuals reporting much physical activity had a 33 percent to 48 percent lower risk for AD."
In a related article, researchers found while adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet is linked to lower risk for mortality and chronic diseases, its association with cognitive decline has been unclear.
Catherine Fart, Ph.D., of the Universit Victor Sgalen Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France, and colleagues examined whether adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with change in cognitive performance and with lower risk of dementia or Alzheimer disease. The study included 1,410 individuals age 65 years or older from Bordeaux. Participants were re-examined at least once over 5 years. The authors were quoted as saying that a Mediterranean-type diet "might also have protective effects against cognitive decline in older individuals, because it combines several foods and nutrients potentially protective against cognitive dysfunction or dementia, such as fish, monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamins B12 and folate, antioxidants (vitamin E, carotenoids, flavonoids), and moderate amounts of alcohol."
"The Mediterranean diet pattern probably does not fully explain the better health of persons who adhere to it, but it may contribute directly. A Mediterranean diet also may indirectly constitute an indicator of a complex set of favorable social and lifestyle factors that contribute to better health. Further research is needed to allow the generalization of these results to other populations and to establish whether a Mediterranean diet slows cognitive decline or reduces incident dementia in addition to its cardiovascular benefits," the authors conclude.
In an accompanying editorial, David S. Knopman, M.D., of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., commented on the two studies. "The findings . . . fit into a larger and potentially optimistic view of prevention of late-life cognitive impairment through application, at least by midlife, of as many healthy behaviors as possible, including diet. Based on these two studies, diet may play a supporting role, but following a healthy diet does not occur in isolation."
SOURCE: Journal of the American Medical Association ( JAMA), August 12, 2009
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