MIND Diet for Cognitive Decline

Overseen By Christy C Tangney, Ph.D.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Rush University Medical Center

Must not be taking: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's medications

Disqualifiers: Psychosis, Bipolar, Alcohol abuse, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 24-36 months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether the MIND Diet can slow cognitive decline in individuals who have recently experienced an ischemic stroke, a stroke caused by a blood clot blocking blood flow to the brain. The MIND Diet emphasizes foods like nuts, berries, and fish, which are believed to boost brain health. Researchers aim to determine if following this diet for 2 to 3 years can improve brain function and markers of Alzheimer's and other vascular diseases. Suitable participants have recently had an ischemic stroke and are returning home after hospital care. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to groundbreaking research that could enhance recovery and brain health after a stroke.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you are using medications to treat Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you are using medications to treat Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.

What prior data suggests that the MIND diet is safe for cognitive decline intervention?

Research shows that the MIND diet, which combines the Mediterranean and DASH diets, is generally safe for most people. Studies have found that closely following the MIND diet links to a lower risk of Alzheimer's Disease and slower memory loss. This diet includes plenty of green leafy vegetables, berries, nuts, beans, whole grains, seafood, poultry, and olive oil, while limiting animal and high-fat foods.

Although one study found that the MIND diet didn't slow memory loss over three years, no evidence suggests it is harmful. It is essentially a healthy eating plan, and participants in the studies did not report any serious side effects. Therefore, for those considering joining a trial involving the MIND diet, current evidence suggests it is safe to try. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

The MIND Diet is unique because it combines elements of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, aiming specifically to support brain health. Unlike other treatments for cognitive decline, which might include medications or general dietary advice, the MIND Diet focuses on specific food groups known to reduce the risk of cognitive impairment. Researchers are excited about this approach because it emphasizes nutrient-rich foods that may protect brain function and slow down cognitive decline, offering a potentially more natural and sustainable option compared to pharmacological treatments.

What evidence suggests that the MIND Diet could be effective for cognitive decline?

Research has shown that the MIND diet, which participants in this trial may receive, can help slow memory and thinking problems and lower the risk of dementia. This diet combines elements of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, emphasizing foods like green leafy vegetables, berries, nuts, and whole grains. Studies have found that following the MIND diet links to better brain health and slower loss of brain function. Those who adhere to this diet often experience less brain shrinkage and a lower chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. These findings suggest that the MIND diet might improve brain health after a stroke. Meanwhile, another group in this trial will receive the Usual Care Diet Intervention, serving as a control to compare the effects of the MIND diet. ^{1 2 4 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Neelum T Aggarwal, MD.

Principal Investigator

Rush University Medical Center

Christy Tangney, PhD

Principal Investigator

Rush University Medical Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for stroke patients aged 55 or older, who are going home after hospitalization and can give consent. They must be able to see and hear well enough for tests, have had an acute ischemic stroke confirmed by MRI or CT scan, but not have dementia or cognitive impairment before the stroke.

Inclusion Criteria

I can see and hear well enough to take psychological tests.

I recently had a stroke confirmed by an MRI or a CT scan.

Written informed consent by patient prior to study participation

Exclusion Criteria

You live in a nursing home and will return there after leaving the study.

I haven't had cancer treatment in the last 5 years, except for non-melanoma skin cancers.

I have a brain-related blood clot or bleeding due to a vascular issue.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive a 2-3 year intervention of the MIND diet with initial 3 months of delivered meals followed by dietary and general stroke health counseling

24-36 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for cognitive outcomes and brain biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease and vascular disease

3 years

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• MIND Diet
• Usual Care Diet Intervention

Trial Overview The study compares the MIND diet—a specific dietary plan designed to reduce neurodegenerative decline—with usual care diets in post-stroke patients. It aims to observe effects on cognitive decline and brain markers related to Alzheimer's Disease over a period of 2-3 years.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: MIND DIET intervention Active Control 1 Intervention

Allocation and blinding 3 year intervention of MIND Diet + counseling

Group II: Usual care diet intervention Placebo Group 1 Intervention

3 year Intervention of usual care diet + counseling

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Rush University Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

448

Recruited

247,000+

Advocate Hospital System

Collaborator

Trials

6

Recruited

490+

University of Chicago

Collaborator

Trials

1,086

Recruited

844,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a 3-year randomized controlled trial involving 604 older adults at risk for dementia, the MIND diet did not show significant cognitive benefits compared to a control diet, with only a slight improvement in global cognition scores for the MIND diet group.

MRI results indicated no significant differences in brain characteristics, such as white-matter hyperintensities and hippocampal volumes, between participants following the MIND diet and those on the control diet.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Trial of the MIND Diet for Prevention of Cognitive Decline in Older Persons. Barnes, LL., Dhana, K., Liu, X., et al.[2023]

In a study of 1220 participants over 12 years in Australia, adherence to the MIND diet was associated with significantly lower odds of developing cognitive impairment, with an odds ratio of 0.47, indicating a protective effect against cognitive decline.

The Mediterranean diet did not show a similar association with reduced cognitive impairment, suggesting that the MIND diet may be more effective in preventing cognitive decline in diverse populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

MIND not Mediterranean diet related to 12-year incidence of cognitive impairment in an Australian longitudinal cohort study. Hosking, DE., Eramudugolla, R., Cherbuin, N., et al.[2020]

In a study of 2,598 older adults, those who adhered more closely to the MIND dietary pattern showed significantly better cognitive performance, particularly in tests related to memory and global cognition.

While both MIND and Mediterranean-like diets were associated with improved cognitive scores, the MIND diet demonstrated stronger positive correlations with cognitive performance compared to the Mediterranean Eating Pattern for Americans (MEPA III).

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitive performance in relation to MIND and MEPA III dietary pattern accordance of NHANES participants. Derdiger, S., Friedeborn, S., Tangney, CC.[2023]

A review of recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) found that chronic intake of whole foods from Mediterranean, DASH, MIND, and ketogenic diets generally supports improvements in cognitive function, with 26 out of 29 studies showing positive results.

Despite variations in study design and small sample sizes, the evidence suggests that these dietary patterns can be an effective nonpharmacological approach to enhance cognitive health in middle-aged and older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Dietary Intake Through Whole Foods on Cognitive Function: Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Jiwani, R., Robbins, R., Neri, A., et al.[2022]

Adherence to the MIND diet is associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.10, indicating a strong protective effect based on a study of 77 patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 148 healthy controls.

Specific components of the MIND diet, such as high consumption of green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, and beans, are linked to lower odds of MS, while higher intake of unhealthy foods like pastries, sweets, and fried foods is associated with increased odds of the disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

MIND Diet Adherence Might be Associated with a Reduced Odds of Multiple Sclerosis: Results from a Case-Control Study. Noormohammadi, M., Ghorbani, Z., Naser Moghadasi, A., et al.[2022]

In a study of 2,092 participants from the Framingham Heart Study, adherence to the MIND diet was linked to better cognitive function and larger total brain volume, suggesting potential protective effects against cognitive decline.

However, the MIND diet did not show a significant association with measures of brain atrophy or silent brain infarcts, indicating that while it may support cognitive health, its impact on preventing brain structure changes remains unclear.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mind Diet Adherence and Cognitive Performance in the Framingham Heart Study. Melo van Lent, D., O'Donnell, A., Beiser, AS., et al.[2021]

The MIND diet is associated with improvements in various cardiometabolic outcomes, including better blood pressure, glycemic control, and lipid profiles, based on a systematic review of 23 studies involving adults.

The evidence supports the MIND diet as a beneficial strategy for reducing cardiometabolic risk, although more long-term and well-designed studies are needed to confirm its effects on cardiovascular diseases.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Associations of the MIND Diet with Cardiometabolic Diseases and Their Risk Factors: A Systematic Review. Akbar, Z., Fituri, S., Ouagueni, A., et al.[2023]

The MIND diet shows promise as a long-term treatment option for improving cognitive function in individuals with various forms of dementia, based on a systematic review of 11 studies involving different dementia pathologies.

All studies reviewed indicated a positive correlation between adherence to the MIND diet and cognitive functioning, although the effects on specific cognitive domains varied, highlighting the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of the MIND Diet on Cognition in Individuals with Dementia. Healy, E.[2023]

In a study of 16,058 older women, long-term adherence to the MIND diet was linked to better verbal memory scores, suggesting it may help maintain cognitive function as people age.

However, the MIND diet did not show a significant effect on overall cognitive decline over six years, indicating that while it may support certain aspects of cognition, it might not prevent broader cognitive deterioration.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Association of Long-Term Adherence to the MIND Diet with Cognitive Function and Cognitive Decline in American Women. Berendsen, AM., Kang, JH., Feskens, EJM., et al.[2019]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8042655/

Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative ... We hypothesize that the MIND diet will reduce the rate of cognitive decline and total brain volume loss compared with a usual diet. MATERIALS AND METHODS.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7199507/

Mediterranean-Dash Intervention for Neurodegenerative ... This study sought to determine if the MIND diet (a hybrid of the Mediterranean and Dash diets, with modifications based on the science of nutrition and the ...

3. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/15/2548

Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative ... MIND emphasizes consuming green leafy vegetables, berries, nuts, beans, whole grains, seafood, poultry, olive oil, wine, and limited intake of animal and high- ...

4. alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.13521

Associations of the Mediterranean‐DASH Intervention for ... The Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet has been associated with lower risk of dementia and slower cognitive ...

5. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04337255

Study Details | NCT04337255 | Mediterranean-DASH ... In this study we will test the effects of a 2- to 3-year intervention of the MIND diet (3 months of delivered meals followed by dietary and general stroke ...

6. nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/healthy-weight/diet-reviews/mind-diet/

Diet Review: MIND Diet - The Nutrition Source The results of this study showed that the MIND diet does not slow cognitive aging over a 3-year treatment period. Whether the MIND diet or other diets can slow ...