Dietary Interventions to Prevent or Delay Alzheimer's Disease: What the Evidence Shows.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the potential of curcumin, among other supplements, to delay or prevent Alzheimer's disease and improve cognitive performance.
Results Summary
The study found promising evidence for curcumin use in improving cognitive performance, though randomized controlled trials generally did not show statistically significant results. It suggests considering curcumin as part of a strategy to delay Alzheimer's disease onset.
Population
Community settings, particularly those with potential risk factors for Alzheimer's disease.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mediterranean diet | decrease | delay/prevent Alzheimer's disease | community settings | - | supported by observational studies | #1 |
MIND diet | decrease | delay/prevent Alzheimer's disease | community settings | - | supported by observational studies | #2 |
Mediterranean diet | decrease | delay/prevent Alzheimer's disease | group with high adherence | - | supported | #3 |
MIND diet | decrease | delay/prevent Alzheimer's disease | group with moderate-high adherence | - | supported | #4 |
various vitamins and supplements | no change | delay/prevent Alzheimer's disease | - | - | not shown statistically significant results | #5 |
vitamin D supplementation | decrease | delay/prevent Alzheimer's disease | - | - | promising evidence | #6 |
curcumin use | decrease | delay/prevent Alzheimer's disease | - | - | promising evidence | #7 |
Mediterranean diet | decrease | delay the onset of AD | - | - | recommend | #8 |
MIND diet | decrease | delay the onset of AD | - | - | recommend | #9 |
vitamin D | decrease | delay/prevent Alzheimer's disease | deficient patients | - | judicious to supplement | #10 |
curcumin | increase | cognitive performance | - | - | consider the use | #11 |
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: A variety of potentially modifiable risk factors have been investigated in an attempt to delay/prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD). Among these, dietary regimens and nutritional supplements have been most extensively studied. The purpose of this article is to critically review recent evidence for the Mediterranean/MIND diets along with the use of various vitamins and popular herbal supplements, including curcumin, Ginkgo biloba, and fish oil, among others. RECENT FINDINGS: The Mediterranean and MIND diets are supported by observational studies performed in community settings, especially in the group with high adherence to the Mediterranean diet and with moderate-high adherence to the MIND diet. Randomized controlled trials of various vitamins and supplements have, in general, not shown statistically significant results, although there has been some promising evidence for vitamin D supplementation and curcumin use. There is sufficient data to recommend the Mediterranean and MIND diets to delay the onset of AD. It is judicious to supplement vitamin D, especially in deficient patients, and to consider the use of curcumin to improve cognitive performance. Future research should focus on larger, controlled trials in diverse populations.