▲ Research has shown that the Mediterranean diet, or MIND diet, improves cognitive health in middle-aged women. (Photo = DB)
[메디컬투데이=최재백 기자] The Mediterranean diet, or MIND diet, has been shown to improve cognitive health in middle-aged women.
Research findings showing that the Mediterranean diet, or MIND diet, improves cognitive health in middle-aged women were published in the academic journal “Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy.”
The research team analyzed data from 509 pairs of female twins registered in the UK Adult Twin Registry between 1992 and 2004. Among the 509 pairs, 34% were identical twins who arose from one zygote and had identical genes , and 66% were fraternal twins who came from different zygotes and had about 50% identical genes.
The research team assessed the twins’ eating habits and cognitive performance through a survey and, about 10 years later, conducted new cognitive tests and stool tests on the twins between 2008 and 2010.
As a result of the study, the twins who followed the Mediterranean diet had better retention of episodic memory and visuospatial working memory 10 years later.
Episodic memory is the ability to remember and retain personal experiences when necessary and use them to learn new information, while visuospatial working memory is the ability to recognize and internalize objects or spaces and remember and process specific characteristics of those objects.
Episodic memory and visuospatial working memory are important quasi-biomarkers for assessing cognitive health. Deficits in episodic memory and visuospatial memory often appear early in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, so if these skills are well preserved, the risk of cognitive decline is low. can be expected.
The experts explained that although deficits in specific cognitive areas do not necessarily mean overall cognitive decline, they can be used as useful indicators to predict cognitive health and its progress.
The research team predicted that following a Mediterranean diet would increase the number of Ruminococcaceae bacteria in the gut and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which would be associated with improved cognitive health.
They explained that when luminococcus bacteria in the intestine produce SCFAs such as acetate, propionic acid and butyrate through the fermentation process of dietary fiber, they can improve intestinal health and produce anti-inflammatory effects, effective in protecting nerve function.
They added that SCFAs serve as energy substrates for intestinal epithelial cells and are involved in crossing the blood-brain barrier to provide energy to brain cells and regulate neurotransmitter levels.
Experts say the eating habits of middle-aged people have a significant impact on cognitive health.
They stated that although cognitive development is generally understood as “a series of trajectories that develop from childhood through adulthood to middle age and then gradually worsen with age,” it is encouraging that cognitive resilience can be promoted and cognitive ability preserved even in middle age.
[ⓒ 메디컬투데이. 무단전재-재배포 금지]
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