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SOURCE: De Amicis R, et al. Mediterranean diet and cognitive status in free-living elderly: A cross-sectional study in Northern Italy. J Am Coll Nutr 2018;37:494-500.
A group of Italian investigators from Milan, Pavia, and Brescia, Italy, performed a cross-sectional study that included 279 seniors ≥ 65 years of age. The authors specifically studied subjects’ diet and cognitive function. The Mediterranean diet was assessed using a 14-item questionnaire. Cognitive function was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). In sum, 30.1% of subjects met the criteria for a healthy Mediterranean diet. The authors suspected mild cognitive decline or observed signs of such in 13.6% of subjects. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR], 0.39). The authors also observed this...