MIND Diet for Multiple Sclerosis

(REMIND Trial)

Overseen By Naiman Khan, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Must be taking: Disease-modifying therapy

Disqualifiers: Other neurodegenerative diseases, food allergies, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

40 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if increasing adherence to a Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet pattern improves thinking ability and memory compared to a healthy control diet in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The main question it aims to answer is: Does the MIND diet improve cognitive performance relative to a control diet in persons with MS? Participants will: Consume one meal that follows the MIND diet or a control meal every day for 3 months, complete online surveys and cognitive testing before and after, and keep a record of the food they eat during the study.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it requires that your disease-modifying therapy (DMT) has been stable for at least 6 months.

What data supports the effectiveness of the MIND Diet treatment for Multiple Sclerosis?

Research suggests that the MIND diet, which combines elements of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, may have neuroprotective effects and is associated with reduced odds of developing multiple sclerosis. Additionally, the MIND diet has been linked to better cognitive performance and a decreased risk of dementia, indicating its potential benefits for brain health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the MIND diet safe for humans?

The MIND diet, which combines elements of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, has been studied for its potential health benefits, including neuroprotective effects and improved cognitive performance. There is no specific mention of safety concerns in the available research, suggesting it is generally considered safe for human consumption. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

How is the MIND Diet treatment unique for multiple sclerosis?

The MIND Diet is unique for multiple sclerosis as it combines elements of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, focusing on foods that may protect the brain and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, unlike traditional treatments that may not emphasize dietary patterns. ^{1 2 3 4 7}

Research Team

Naiman Khan, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for people aged 18-64 with Multiple Sclerosis, good or corrected vision, and stable MS treatment. They shouldn't have other neurodegenerative diseases, be pregnant or lactating, have food allergies/intolerances, or be in another diet/exercise/medication study.

Inclusion Criteria

I am not pregnant or breastfeeding.

I can eat the meals provided in the study.

My treatment for my condition has not changed in the last 6 months.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants consume one meal per day following the MIND diet or a control diet for 12 weeks, complete online surveys and cognitive testing, and keep a food record

12 weeks

Remote participation with online surveys and cognitive testing

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for cognitive performance improvements and adherence to the diet

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Control Diet
• MIND Diet

Trial Overview The trial tests if the MIND diet improves cognitive function compared to a control diet in MS patients. Participants will eat one meal per day following either the MIND or control diet for three months and complete surveys and cognitive tests before and after.

Participant Groups

Group I: MIND Diet Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the active MIND diet group will be asked to consume one ready-to-eat meal per day from Daily Harvest® meal delivery service. The treatment meals will follow MIND diet guidelines and include leafy green vegetables, nuts, legumes, whole grains, berries, and extra virgin olive oil.

Group II: Control Diet Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in the control diet group will be asked to consume one ready-to-eat meal per day from Daily Harvest® meal delivery service. The Control group will receive daily meals that are isocaloric with the active/experimental meals but will follow a general diet based on the average American diet and Dietary Guidelines for Americans (i.e., vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and unsaturated fats).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Lead Sponsor

Trials

203

Recruited

40,600+

Findings from Research

In a study of 882 older adults over 12 years, adherence to the MIND diet was linked to a 12% reduction in all-cause mortality risk for each unit increase in diet score, indicating its potential health benefits.

Participants with the highest adherence to the MIND diet had a 37% lower risk of death compared to those with the lowest adherence, suggesting that this dietary pattern may be a valuable public health recommendation for increasing longevity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adherence to the MIND diet is associated with 12-year all-cause mortality in older adults. Corley, J.[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 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 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]

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]

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]

In a study of 163 adults, adherence to the MIND diet was significantly associated with lower visceral adiposity and improved metabolic syndrome features, indicating its potential effectiveness for metabolic health.

While all diets studied (MIND, Mediterranean, DASH, and HEI-2015) showed some benefits, the MIND diet specifically demonstrated the strongest associations with reduced waist circumference, triglycerides, blood pressure, and fasting glucose levels.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

MIND dietary pattern adherence is inversely associated with visceral adiposity and features of metabolic syndrome. Holthaus, TA., Sethi, S., Cannavale, CN., et al.[2023]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adherence to the MIND diet is associated with 12-year all-cause mortality in older adults. [2022]

2. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

MIND Diet Adherence Might be Associated with a Reduced Odds of Multiple Sclerosis: Results from a Case-Control Study. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Trial of the MIND Diet for Prevention of Cognitive Decline in Older Persons. [2023]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitive performance in relation to MIND and MEPA III dietary pattern accordance of NHANES participants. [2023]

5. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Dietary Intake Through Whole Foods on Cognitive Function: Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

MIND dietary pattern adherence is inversely associated with visceral adiposity and features of metabolic syndrome. [2023]