Relationship varied among five examined racial and ethnic groups
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, June 2, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Higher adherence to the MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diet in mid to late life is associated with a reduced risk for Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD), according to a study presented at NUTRITION 2025, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, held from May 31 to June 3 in Orlando, Florida.
Song-Yi Park, Ph.D., from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and colleagues examined the MIND diet in relation to late-onset ARD risk across five racial and ethnic groups participating in the Multiethnic Cohort Study. The analysis included data from participants (45 to 75 years) measured at baseline and at 10-year follow-up.
The researchers observed a modest decrease in ADRD risk in the highest versus the lowest MIND diet score group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.91). The inverse association varied by race and ethnicity, suggesting stronger protection among African American, Latino, and White participants than for Japanese-American or Native Hawaiian groups. MIND diet score improvement over 10 years was associated with a lower risk overall (hazard ratio, 0.75) compared with groups with the greatest increase (≥1 standard deviation increase versus ≥1 standard deviation decrease), with an inverse association seen for all racial and ethnic groups except Native Hawaiian. The inverse association was consistent for the younger (younger than 60 years at baseline) and older (60 years and older) age groups.
“Our study findings confirm that healthy dietary patterns in mid to late life and their improvement over time may prevent Alzheimer’s and related dementias,” Park said in a statement. “This suggests that it is never too late to adopt a healthy diet to prevent dementia.”
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