The Mediterranean Diet and 2-Year Change in Cognitive Function by Status of Type 2 Diabetes and Glycemic Control
- PMID:31123154
- PMCID: PMC6647047
- DOI: 10.2337/dc19-0130
The Mediterranean Diet and 2-Year Change in Cognitive Function by Status of Type 2 Diabetes and Glycemic Control
Abstract
Objective: To determine associations of a Mediterranean diet score (MeDS) with 2-year change in cognitive function by type 2 diabetes and glycemic control status and contrast it against other diet quality scores.
Research design and methods: We used data from the longitudinal Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (n = 913; 42.6% with type 2 diabetes at 2 years). Glycemic control at baseline was categorized as uncontrolled (hemoglobin A1c ≥7% [53 mmol/mol]) versus controlled. Two-year change in glycemic control was defined as stable/improved versus poor/declined. We defined MeDS, Healthy Eating Index, Alternate Healthy Eating Index, and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension scores. Adjusted mixed linear models assessed 2-year change in global cognitive functionz score, executive and memory function, and nine individual cognitive tests.
Results: Higher MeDS, but no other diet quality score, was associated with higher 2-year change in global cognitive function in adults with type 2 diabetes (β ± SE = 0.027 ± 0.011;P = 0.016) but not in those without (P = 0.80). Similar results were noted for Mini-Mental State Examination, word recognition, digit span, and clock drawing tests. Results remained consistent for individuals under glycemic control at baseline (0.062 ± 0.020;P = 0.004) and stable/improved over 2 years (0.053 ± 0.019;P = 0.007), but not for individuals with uncontrolled or poor/declined glycemic control. All diet quality scores were associated with higher 2-year memory function in adults without type 2 diabetes.
Conclusions: Both adhering to a Mediterranean diet and effectively managing type 2 diabetes may support optimal cognitive function. Healthy diets, in general, can help improve memory function among adults without type 2 diabetes.
© 2019 by the American Diabetes Association.
Figures

Similar articles
- Diet Quality and Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.Antonio JP, Sarmento RA, de Almeida JC.Antonio JP, et al.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2019 Apr;119(4):652-658. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2018.11.006. Epub 2019 Jan 17.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2019.PMID:30661934
- Adherence to Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension and Healthy Eating Indices are associated with lower risk of disability among Puerto Rican adults from the longitudinal Boston Puerto Rican Health Study.Flanagan KD, Cornell DJ, Mangano KM, Zhang X, Tucker KL, Noel SE.Flanagan KD, et al.Am J Clin Nutr. 2024 Aug;120(2):389-397. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.05.030. Epub 2024 Jun 19.Am J Clin Nutr. 2024.PMID:38906381
- The Mediterranean Diet Score Is More Strongly Associated with Favorable Cardiometabolic Risk Factors over 2 Years Than Other Diet Quality Indexes in Puerto Rican Adults.Mattei J, Sotos-Prieto M, Bigornia SJ, Noel SE, Tucker KL.Mattei J, et al.J Nutr. 2017 Apr;147(4):661-669. doi: 10.3945/jn.116.245431. Epub 2017 Mar 8.J Nutr. 2017.PMID:28275099Free PMC article.
- Effects of low carbohydrate diets on weight and glycemic control among type 2 diabetes individuals: a systemic review of RCT greater than 12 weeks.Castañeda-González LM, Bacardí Gascón M, Jiménez Cruz A.Castañeda-González LM, et al.Nutr Hosp. 2011 Nov-Dec;26(6):1270-6. doi: 10.1590/S0212-16112011000600013.Nutr Hosp. 2011.PMID:22411372Review.
- The Effect of Dietary Glycaemic Index on Glycaemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Ojo O, Ojo OO, Adebowale F, Wang XH.Ojo O, et al.Nutrients. 2018 Mar 19;10(3):373. doi: 10.3390/nu10030373.Nutrients. 2018.PMID:29562676Free PMC article.Review.
Cited by
- Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Depressive Symptomatology Among Boston Area Puerto Ricans.Sahasrabudhe N, Soo Lee J, Zhang X, Scott T, Punnett L, Tucker KL, Palacios N.Sahasrabudhe N, et al.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2023 Feb 24;78(2):258-266. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glac057.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2023.PMID:35253838Free PMC article.
- Correlation of physical and cognitive impairment in diabetic and hypertensive frail older adults.Mone P, Gambardella J, Lombardi A, Pansini A, De Gennaro S, Leo AL, Famiglietti M, Marro A, Morgante M, Frullone S, De Luca A, Santulli G.Mone P, et al.Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2022 Jan 19;21(1):10. doi: 10.1186/s12933-021-01442-z.Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2022.PMID:35045834Free PMC article.
- A novel Mediterranean diet-inspired supplement ameliorates cognitive, microbial, and metabolic deficits in a mouse model of low-grade inflammation.Pontifex MG, Connell E, Le Gall G, Lang L, Pourtau L, Gaudout D, Angeloni C, Zallocco L, Ronci M, Giusti L, Müller M, Vauzour D.Pontifex MG, et al.Gut Microbes. 2024 Jan-Dec;16(1):2363011. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2363011. Epub 2024 Jun 4.Gut Microbes. 2024.PMID:38835220Free PMC article.
- Circulating Plasma Metabolites and Cognitive Function in a Puerto Rican Cohort.Palacios N, Lee JS, Scott T, Kelly RS, Bhupathiraju SN, Bigornia SJ, Tucker KL.Palacios N, et al.J Alzheimers Dis. 2020;76(4):1267-1280. doi: 10.3233/JAD-200040.J Alzheimers Dis. 2020.PMID:32716356Free PMC article.
- MIND Diet and Cognitive Function in Puerto Rican Older Adults.Boumenna T, Scott TM, Lee JS, Zhang X, Kriebel D, Tucker KL, Palacios N.Boumenna T, et al.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2022 Mar 3;77(3):605-613. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glab261.J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2022.PMID:34551094Free PMC article.
References
- Wu L, Sun D, Tan Y. Intake of fruit and vegetables and the incident risk of cognitive disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. J Nutr Health Aging 2017;21:1284–1290 - PubMed
- Masana MF, Koyanagi A, Haro JM, Tyrovolas S. n-3 fatty acids, Mediterranean diet and cognitive function in normal aging: a systematic review. Exp Gerontol 2017;91:39–50 - PubMed
- Cheung BH, Ho IC, Chan RS, Sea MM, Woo J. Current evidence on dietary pattern and cognitive function. Adv Food Nutr Res 2014;71:137–163 - PubMed
- Yeomans MR. Adverse effects of consuming high fat-sugar diets on cognition: implications for understanding obesity. Proc Nutr Soc 2017;76:455–465 - PubMed