Introduction: Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), are chronic disorders with a gradual onset and progression, leading to significant functional impairment. As these diseases advance, patients become increasingly dependent on caregivers, often requiring institutionalization, which exacerbates their physical and mental health. The aging global population raises concerns as neurodegenerative diseases are more prevalent among older adults, necessitating further understanding, prevention, and treatment of these diseases.
Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library from January 2006 to November 2024. The search included terms: “Mediterranean diet”, “DASH diet”, “MIND diet”, “cognitive decline”, “Alzheimer”, “Parkinson”, and “neurodegenerative diseases.” Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were assessed using PRISMA, STROBE and Cochrane Risk of Bias tools. Studies included clinical trials, cohort studies, longitudinal studies, and meta-analyses that evaluated the relationship between dietary patterns and cognitive health.
Results: A total of 17 studies were selected, including observational studies, clinical trials, and meta-analyses. The results indicated that the Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND), combining elements of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, is particularly promising in preventing cognitive decline and reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The Mediterranean diet also showed benefits, although to a lesser extent, while the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) positively influenced cardiovascular health, which indirectly preserved cognitive function.
Conclusions: This review highlights the potential of dietary interventions, particularly the MIND diet, in preventing cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. However, further research is needed, especially long-term studies with larger sample sizes and more robust control of confounding factors, to firmly establish the causal relationship between diet and cognitive health.