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The Mediterranean and MIND Dietary Patterns: Associations with Cognition and Psychological Distress Among Latinos

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Older Mexicans and Latinos in the United States

Abstract

Background: Latinos experience a disproportionate burden of chronic disease (e.g., diabetes, obesity, depression), which increases their risk for cognitive decline. Evidence suggests that healthy dietary patterns may be positively associated with cognitive function and psychosocial outcomes; however, there is a paucity of studies examining dietary patterns among Latinos. The purpose of the present study was to examine relationships between Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND), the Mediterranean diet, cognition, and psychological distress among middle-aged and older Latinos.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Latinos (N = 61; Mage = 58.59 ± 8.66, 67% female). Food consumption was assessed using the Block 2005 Food Frequency Questionnaire and was used to compute MIND and Mediterranean diet scores. NIH Toolbox was used to assess perceived stress, general life satisfaction, sadness, and loneliness. Multiple linear regressions with adjustment for covariates (e.g., age, sex, and education) were conducted. Results: MIND diet scores significantly predicted executive function (β = .301, p = .018) and did not significantly predict other domains of cognition or psychological distress. The MedDiet scores significantly predicted perceived stress levels (β = −.437, p = .001), general life satisfaction (β = .411, p = .002), sadness (β = −.335, p = .039), and digit span backward scores (β = −.326, p = .020); however, the MedDiet did not significantly predict loneliness (β = −.097, p = .500), or any other domains of cognition.

Discussion: Findings demonstrate that the MIND diet was associated with better executive function while the MedDiet was associated with reduced stress and sadness as well as increased life satisfaction. Future studies may consider culturally tailoring dietary patterns for Latinos to increase adherence and thereby improve cognitive and psychological outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States

    Diana Morales, Jacqueline Guzman, Yuliana Soto & Susan Aguiñaga

  2. Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States

    Jacqueline Guzman

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  1. Diana Morales
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  2. Jacqueline Guzman
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  3. Yuliana Soto
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  4. Susan Aguiñaga
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Correspondence to Susan Aguiñaga .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. LBJ School and Center on Aging and Population Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Jacqueline L. Angel

  2. School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA

    Flavia C. Drumond Andrade

  3. Department of Sociology and Demography, Institute for Health Disparities Research, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Fernando Riosmena

  4. Institute of Neuroscience, Schoolof Medicine, UT Rio Grande Valley, Harlingen, TX, USA

    Silvia Mejia-Arango

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Morales, D., Guzman, J., Soto, Y., Aguiñaga, S. (2023). The Mediterranean and MIND Dietary Patterns: Associations with Cognition and Psychological Distress Among Latinos. In: Angel, J.L., Drumond Andrade, F.C., Riosmena, F., Mejia-Arango, S. (eds) Older Mexicans and Latinos in the United States. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-48809-2_8

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