Impact of Diet and Exercise Interventions on Cognition and Brain Health in Older Adults: A Narrative Review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to examine the impact of the DASH diet on cognitive performance and brain health as part of broader lifestyle interventions.
Results Summary
The abstract suggests that the DASH diet, along with other dietary and exercise interventions, shows promise in influencing cognitive performance and brain structure, though the mechanisms remain unclear and require further study.
Population
Not specified (general aging and neurodegenerative disease populations implied).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mediterranean diet (MeDi) | neutral | cognitive performance and brain structure | - | - | influence | #1 |
Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) | neutral | cognitive performance and brain structure | - | - | influence | #2 |
Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) | neutral | cognitive performance and brain structure | - | - | influence | #3 |
ketogenic diet | neutral | cognitive performance and brain structure | - | - | influence | #4 |
intermittent fasting | neutral | cognitive performance and brain structure | - | - | influence | #5 |
weight loss management | neutral | cognitive performance and brain structure | - | - | influence | #6 |
endurance exercise | neutral | cognitive performance and brain structure | - | - | influence | #7 |
resistance exercise | neutral | cognitive performance and brain structure | - | - | influence | #8 |
combined exercise programs | neutral | cognitive performance and brain structure | - | - | influence | #9 |
yoga | neutral | cognitive performance and brain structure | - | - | influence | #10 |
tai chi | neutral | cognitive performance and brain structure | - | - | influence | #11 |
high-intensity interval training | neutral | cognitive performance and brain structure | - | - | influence | #12 |
The ability to preserve cognitive function and protect brain structure from the effects of the aging process and neurodegenerative disease is the goal of non-pharmacologic, lifestyle interventions focused on brain health. This review examines, in turn, current diet and exercise intervention trends and the collective progress made toward understanding their impact on cognition and brain health. The diets covered in this review include the Mediterranean diet (MeDi), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND), ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting, and weight loss management. The exercise approaches covered in this review include endurance, resistance, combined exercise programs, yoga, tai chi, and high-intensity interval training. Although valuable evidence is building concerning how diet and exercise influence cognitive performance and brain structure, many of the open questions in the field are concerned with why we see these effects. Therefore, more strategically designed intervention studies are needed to reveal the likely multiple mechanisms of action in humans.