Mediterranean diet and brain functional connectivity in a population without dementia

IntroductionAdjustable lifestyle factors, such as diet, are associated with cognitive functions, structural and functional brain measures, but the association between the functional connectivity (FC) and the Mediterranean Diet (Medicine) in population without dementia is yet to be explored.MethodsTh...

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Main Authors: Efstratios Karavasilis, Vasileios Balomenos, Foteini Christidi, Georgios Velonakis, Georgia Angelopoulou, Mary Yannakoulia, Eirini Mamalaki, Archontoula Drouka, Dora Brikou, Angeliki Tsapanou, Yian Gu, Nikolaos Scarmeas
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Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Neuroimaging
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnimg.2024.1473399/full
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author Efstratios Karavasilis
Vasileios Balomenos
Vasileios Balomenos
Foteini Christidi
Foteini Christidi
Georgios Velonakis
Georgia Angelopoulou
Mary Yannakoulia
Eirini Mamalaki
Archontoula Drouka
Dora Brikou
Angeliki Tsapanou
Angeliki Tsapanou
Yian Gu
Nikolaos Scarmeas
Nikolaos Scarmeas
author_facet Efstratios Karavasilis
Vasileios Balomenos
Vasileios Balomenos
Foteini Christidi
Foteini Christidi
Georgios Velonakis
Georgia Angelopoulou
Mary Yannakoulia
Eirini Mamalaki
Archontoula Drouka
Dora Brikou
Angeliki Tsapanou
Angeliki Tsapanou
Yian Gu
Nikolaos Scarmeas
Nikolaos Scarmeas
author_sort Efstratios Karavasilis
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionAdjustable lifestyle factors, such as diet, are associated with cognitive functions, structural and functional brain measures, but the association between the functional connectivity (FC) and the Mediterranean Diet (Medicine) in population without dementia is yet to be explored.MethodsThe association between MeDi and brain FC in 105 individuals without dementia aged 63 (SD ± 8.72) years old who underwent brain MRI including resting-state (rs) functional MRI (fMRI) was examined. Dietary intake was evaluated through four 24-h recalls using the multiple-pass method and adherence to the MeDi was estimated using the MedDietScore, with higher values indicating greater adherence to MeDi. Multivariable linear regression models were used to investigate the associations between FC (both positive and negative associations) and MedDietScore.ResultsRs-fMRI analysis revealed significant associations between FC and MedDietScore. The FC between the medial prefrontal cortex and a cluster located in left postcentral gyrus and in the left supramarginal gyrus was positively associated with MedDietScore. On the other hand, the FC between medial visual and right posterior division of both middle and superior temporal gyrus was negatively associated with MedDietScore. Of note, a temporal negative correlation was detected between above-mentioned FC networks. The FC between superior temporal gyrus and occipital regions was associated with participants' attention, executive functions, and memory scores. Furthermore, the associations for attention and executive functions were pronounced in participants with high adherence to MeDi compared to those with low adherence to MeDi.DiscussionIn conclusion, our study documented an association between higher adherence to MeDi and rs-FC in fronto-parietal and temporo-occipital regions, particularly in areas that are involved in cognitive processes altered across normal and pathological aging. From a clinical point of view, our findings support a favorable role of MeDi on FC which may have significant clinical implications in the rapidly aging population. Rs-fMRI is also proposed as a useful tool in the emerging field of nutritional neuroscience and a candidate non-invasive biomarker of brain aging.
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spelling doaj-art-c2cad503d27243b89f32ec2cff2d780d2024-12-06T06:51:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroimaging2813-11932024-12-01310.3389/fnimg.2024.14733991473399Mediterranean diet and brain functional connectivity in a population without dementiaEfstratios Karavasilis0Vasileios Balomenos1Vasileios Balomenos2Foteini Christidi3Foteini Christidi4Georgios Velonakis5Georgia Angelopoulou6Mary Yannakoulia7Eirini Mamalaki8Archontoula Drouka9Dora Brikou10Angeliki Tsapanou11Angeliki Tsapanou12Yian Gu13Nikolaos Scarmeas14Nikolaos Scarmeas15Medical Physics Lab, Scholl of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, GreeceDepartment of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, ‘Sotiria' General and Chest Diseases Hospital of Athens, Athens, GreeceResearch Unit of Radiology and Medical Imaging, 2nd Department of Radiology, Attikon General University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceFirst Department of Neurology, Aiginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceComputational Neuroimaging Group (CNG), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandResearch Unit of Radiology and Medical Imaging, 2nd Department of Radiology, Attikon General University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceFirst Department of Neurology, Aiginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, GreeceDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, GreeceDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, GreeceDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, GreeceFirst Department of Neurology, Aiginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceTaub Institute for Research in Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, United StatesTaub Institute for Research in Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, United StatesFirst Department of Neurology, Aiginition Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceTaub Institute for Research in Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, United StatesIntroductionAdjustable lifestyle factors, such as diet, are associated with cognitive functions, structural and functional brain measures, but the association between the functional connectivity (FC) and the Mediterranean Diet (Medicine) in population without dementia is yet to be explored.MethodsThe association between MeDi and brain FC in 105 individuals without dementia aged 63 (SD ± 8.72) years old who underwent brain MRI including resting-state (rs) functional MRI (fMRI) was examined. Dietary intake was evaluated through four 24-h recalls using the multiple-pass method and adherence to the MeDi was estimated using the MedDietScore, with higher values indicating greater adherence to MeDi. Multivariable linear regression models were used to investigate the associations between FC (both positive and negative associations) and MedDietScore.ResultsRs-fMRI analysis revealed significant associations between FC and MedDietScore. The FC between the medial prefrontal cortex and a cluster located in left postcentral gyrus and in the left supramarginal gyrus was positively associated with MedDietScore. On the other hand, the FC between medial visual and right posterior division of both middle and superior temporal gyrus was negatively associated with MedDietScore. Of note, a temporal negative correlation was detected between above-mentioned FC networks. The FC between superior temporal gyrus and occipital regions was associated with participants' attention, executive functions, and memory scores. Furthermore, the associations for attention and executive functions were pronounced in participants with high adherence to MeDi compared to those with low adherence to MeDi.DiscussionIn conclusion, our study documented an association between higher adherence to MeDi and rs-FC in fronto-parietal and temporo-occipital regions, particularly in areas that are involved in cognitive processes altered across normal and pathological aging. From a clinical point of view, our findings support a favorable role of MeDi on FC which may have significant clinical implications in the rapidly aging population. Rs-fMRI is also proposed as a useful tool in the emerging field of nutritional neuroscience and a candidate non-invasive biomarker of brain aging.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnimg.2024.1473399/fullmediterranean dietrs-fMRIfunctional connectivityagingbiomarkers
spellingShingle Efstratios Karavasilis
Vasileios Balomenos
Vasileios Balomenos
Foteini Christidi
Foteini Christidi
Georgios Velonakis
Georgia Angelopoulou
Mary Yannakoulia
Eirini Mamalaki
Archontoula Drouka
Dora Brikou
Angeliki Tsapanou
Angeliki Tsapanou
Yian Gu
Nikolaos Scarmeas
Nikolaos Scarmeas
Mediterranean diet and brain functional connectivity in a population without dementia
Frontiers in Neuroimaging
mediterranean diet
rs-fMRI
functional connectivity
aging
biomarkers
title Mediterranean diet and brain functional connectivity in a population without dementia
title_full Mediterranean diet and brain functional connectivity in a population without dementia
title_fullStr Mediterranean diet and brain functional connectivity in a population without dementia
title_full_unstemmed Mediterranean diet and brain functional connectivity in a population without dementia
title_short Mediterranean diet and brain functional connectivity in a population without dementia
title_sort mediterranean diet and brain functional connectivity in a population without dementia
topic mediterranean diet
rs-fMRI
functional connectivity
aging
biomarkers
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnimg.2024.1473399/full
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