Western Mediterranean diet predicts 9-year changes in episodic memory in an adult lifespan sample of Americans

BackgroundThe Mediterranean Diet (MD) is well-studied for slowing cognitive declines. Few studies have examined how a Western MD (wMD) may impact cognitive function.ObjectiveThis study examined whether a wMD predicted less cognitive decline over 9 years in a national sample of American adults. The measures were episodic memory (EM) and executive functioning (EF) at baseline and 9 years follow-up.MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS), using a longitudinal cohort design with cross-sectional dietary data. Participants in this study had data from Waves 2 and 3 of MIDUS (<i>n </i>= 833, 46 ± 12 years; 45% male). Regression analyses tested whether wMD adherence predicted 9-year changes in EM and EF. Moderator analyses determined whether the relationship between wMD, EM, and EF differed across sociodemographic characteristics.ResultswMD score at Wave 2 predicted attenuated declines in EM 9 years later (β = 0.06, <i>p </i>= 0.04). The association between wMD and EM was not moderated by age, sex, race, education, or income and thus is consistent across sociodemographic subpopulations. wMD did not predict EF (fully adjusted wMD β = 0.00, <i>p </i>= 0.86). Contextualized effect sizes showed that individuals who strongly adhered to the wMD (+1 SD) experienced ∼50-60% less decline in 9-year EM when compared to those with average adherence.ConclusionsA wMD was related to slowed EM declines across sociodemographic populations in a national U.S. sample. Education is needed about healthful dietary habits, including increased fruit and vegetable intake.