Maria Mantzorou1, Konstantinos Vadikolias2, Eleni Pavlidou3, Christina Tryfonos3, Georgios Vasios3, Aspasia Serdari4, Constantinos Giaginis5. 1. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, Myrina, Mitropoliti Ioakim 2, 81440, Myrina, Lemnos, Greece. mantzorou.m@aegean.gr. 2. Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupoli, Thrace, Greece. 3. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, Myrina, Mitropoliti Ioakim 2, 81440, Myrina, Lemnos, Greece. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry, Democritus University of Thrace, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupoli, Thrace, Greece. 5. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of Aegean, Myrina, Mitropoliti Ioakim 2, 81440, Myrina, Lemnos, Greece. cgiaginis@aegean.gr.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence of an elderly Greek population, and its association with the grade of cognitive decline and psychological status. METHODS: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Mediterranean diet score (MedDietScore) questionnaires were used to assess the impact of MD adherence on cognitive abilities and psychological state of a Greek elderly population. PARTICIPANTS: 2092 men and women over 65 years old (mean age 74.97 ± 8.41 years) from seven different Greek cities RESULTS: 34.4% of the study population showed cognitive impairment, while 32.3% of the participants had depressive symptoms. More than half of the participants (52.1%) showed very low or low MD adherence. Higher MD adherence was significantly associated with better MMSE and GDS scores. Moreover, higher MD adherence was significantly associated with younger age, female gender, higher educational level, and better anthropometric parameters. MD adherence was independently associated with cognitive and psychological status, and gender after adjustment for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: Higher MD adherence is strongly associated with better cognitive status and less depressive symptomatology. Public health policies are recommended to focus on the promotion of the MD, as a crucial strategy to reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and depression.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence of an elderly Greek population, and its association with the grade of cognitive decline and psychological status. METHODS: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Mediterranean diet score (MedDietScore) questionnaires were used to assess the impact of MD adherence on cognitive abilities and psychological state of a Greek elderly population. PARTICIPANTS: 2092 men and women over 65 years old (mean age 74.97 ± 8.41 years) from seven different Greek cities RESULTS: 34.4% of the study population showed cognitive impairment, while 32.3% of the participants had depressive symptoms. More than half of the participants (52.1%) showed very low or low MD adherence. Higher MD adherence was significantly associated with better MMSE and GDS scores. Moreover, higher MD adherence was significantly associated with younger age, female gender, higher educational level, and better anthropometric parameters. MD adherence was independently associated with cognitive and psychological status, and gender after adjustment for potential confounders. CONCLUSION: Higher MD adherence is strongly associated with better cognitive status and less depressive symptomatology. Public health policies are recommended to focus on the promotion of the MD, as a crucial strategy to reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and depression.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cognitive impairment; Depression; Elderly; Mediterranean diet; Public health
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