But the most worrying aspect is that the prolonged impact of these factors in the second year of the pandemic suggests long-term consequences for brain health.( ean.org) (ORE Exeter) (News).
So this phenomenon does not stem only from longer life expectancy, but also from extraordinary external factors, and it is also closely linked to our diet. A glimmer of hope comes from recent studies, including the renowned French Three-City Cohort Study, which suggests that the Mediterranean diet could be one of the keys to ‘shielding’ the mind against the erosion of time.
This study included around 800 older participants with an average age of 75 at baseline, focusing on the assessment of cognitive function over a 12-year period. The study used an innovative methodological approach that quantifies adherence to the Mediterranean diet through specific biomarkers in serum.
These biomarkers reflect the intake of food groups typical of the Mediterranean diet, such as unsaturated fatty acids and polyphenol metabolites derived from the gut microbiota, which are crucial for assessing the bioavailability of these compounds (Med Xpress) (Technology Networks).
What were the results?
The results of the study revealed a 10% reduction in the risk of cognitive decline among those who adhered most closely to the diet, based on these biomarkers (Universitat de Barcelona). Although the numerical effect may appear modest, this reduction is clinically significant, especially considering that there is currently no cure for cognitive decline conditions.
Moreover, the use of dietary pattern indices based on the assessment of biomarkers represents an advance in nutritional research, offering more accurate and objective methods that take into account crucial factors such as bioavailability (Med Xpress).
While it is by now well established that diet is fundamental to people’s health, these results strengthen the belief that dietary choices, particularly those in line with the Mediterranean diet, play a significant role not only in well-known conditions such as cardiovascular disease, but also in maintaining cognitive health, which is sorely tested as we age.
The rise in the average age in Europe, and above all in Italy, demands ever greater attention to people’s mental clarity and intellectual abilities. Demographics and the needs of pension institutions around the world are forcing states to extend working lives ever further, so that people are ‘forced’ to work until an age that only a few decades ago was considered advanced.
It is therefore important that older people maintain normal cognitive abilities as far as possible, both for their own sake and for the preservation of the social fabric. The studies in question suggest that diet may be a vital component of strategies aimed at reducing the risk of cognitive decline among older people (Technology Networks).
This is in fact in line with broader research indicating that the Mediterranean diet not only supports the ability to stay ‘sharp’, but also helps to reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Studies conducted by universities such as the Universitat de Barcelona show that a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, wholegrain cereals, pulses, nuts and olive oil, with limited consumption of red meat and moderate use of wine, can have beneficial effects in preventing diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. These benefits derive from the essential nutrients and antioxidants found in these foods, which fight inflammation and promote the health of the blood vessels, essential for maintaining good cognitive function and general physical wellbeing.
other sources and further reading:
For more details on the studies on cognitive decline after COVID-19, you can explore the study published in ‘The Lancet Healthy Longevity’ and further information available on the PROTECT study web page on the University of Exeter website or directly through their study portal (ean.org) (ORE Exeter) (News).
