What the study found
Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with indicators of better white matter integrity in Hispanic or Latino adults. The study also found that some white matter measures, together with cardiovascular health, appeared to mediate the association between diet and global cognition.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the findings indicate a link between Mediterranean diet adherence and brain white matter structure, and that cardiovascular health may be part of the pathway relating diet to global cognition. They suggest this is relevant because the study connects diet, brain structure, cardiovascular health, and cognition in a Hispanic or Latino population.
What the researchers tested
The researchers analyzed data from the Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging MRI Ancillary Study. They used 24-hour diet recalls to calculate a Mediterranean diet score, brain MRI with diffusion tensor imaging to assess white matter integrity, a composite score from four standardized cognitive tests to measure global cognition, and the Life's Essential 7 score as a cardiovascular health measure that excluded diet.
What worked and what didn't
Higher Mediterranean diet scores were associated with lower white matter hyperintensity volume, higher total white matter volume, lower free water, and higher fractional anisotropy. White matter hyperintensity volume, total white matter volume, and fractional anisotropy mediated the association between Mediterranean diet adherence and global cognition, and there was also serial mediation through cardiovascular health and these white matter measures.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe experimental intervention, so the findings are observational and show association rather than causation. The summary also does not provide detailed limitations beyond the study design and the specific population studied.
Key points
- 2,642 Hispanic or Latino adults were included, with a mean age of 64.3 years.
- Higher Mediterranean diet scores were linked to lower white matter hyperintensity volume.
- Higher Mediterranean diet scores were linked to higher total white matter volume and higher fractional anisotropy.
- Higher Mediterranean diet scores were linked to lower free water, another white matter measure.
- White matter measures and cardiovascular health appeared to mediate the diet-cognition association.
- The study used baseline diet and cardiovascular health data with later MRI and cognitive testing.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Mediterranean diet adherence linked to better white matter integrity
- Authors:
- Gabriela Trifan, Bayan Moustafa, Carmen R. Isasi, Richard B. Lipton, D Sotres-Alvarez, Jianwen Cai, Wassim Tarraf, Ariana M. Stickel, Josiemer Mattei, Pauline Maillard, Martha Daviglus, Hector M. Gonzalez, C. S. DeCarli, Fernando D. Testai
- Institutions:
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Health, Department of Health, Harvard University, Illinois College, Illinois College, Illinois College, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Mayo Clinic Health System, Office of Minority Health, University of California San Diego, University of California San Diego, University of California, Davis, University of California, Davis, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Illinois Chicago, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wayne State University
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-21
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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