`
A study conÂducted by Greek researchers found that adherÂence to a Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of stroke, depresÂsion, cogÂniÂtive impairÂment, and Parkinson’s disÂease. The proÂtecÂtive effects of high adherÂence to the diet were seen in both Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean counÂtries, with conÂsumpÂtion of foods rich in antioxÂiÂdants such as olive oil, fruit, vegÂetaÂbles, and nuts being attribÂuted to the benÂeÂfits.
A group of Greek researchers conÂducted a review of 22 studÂies and found that adherÂence to a Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of stroke, depresÂsion, cogÂniÂtive impairÂment, and Parkinson disÂease.
The study pubÂlished in the jourÂnal Annals of Neurology lead by Theodora Psaltopoulou, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at the University of Athens School of Medicine, was a meta-analyÂsis of eliÂgiÂble studÂies that covÂered stroke, Parkinson’s disÂease, cogÂniÂtive impairÂment and depresÂsion. The researchers found that high adherÂence to the Mediterranean diet was conÂsisÂtently assoÂciÂated with reduced risk of stroke, depresÂsion and cogÂniÂtive impairÂment. Moderate adherÂence was assoÂciÂated mostly with a reduced risk of depresÂsion and cogÂniÂtive impairÂment but not so much for stroke.
The researchers menÂtion that for depresÂsion, the proÂtecÂtive effects of high adherÂence to the diet appeared indeÂpenÂdent of age, but this proÂtecÂtive effect was less when there was modÂerÂate adherÂence and older age.
One of the most interÂestÂing findÂings was that the proÂtecÂtive effect from depresÂsion was observed in both Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean counÂtries.
While the Mediterranean diet is known for being heart healthy, sevÂeral studÂies have shown that this eatÂing patÂtern can proÂtect from varÂiÂous disÂeases of the brain. Some studÂies attribute this proÂtecÂtive effect to the conÂsumpÂtion of foods rich in antioxÂiÂdants such as olive oil, fruit, vegÂetaÂbles and nuts while othÂers also see benÂeÂfits of indiÂvidÂual foods in the Mediterranean diet such as extra virÂgin olive oil and walÂnuts.