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Glycemic control contributes to the neuroprotective effects of mediterranean and green-mediterranean diets on brain age: The DIRECT PLUS brain-MRI randomized controlled trial

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Beyer,  Frauke       
Department Neurology, MPI for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Max Planck Society;

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Witte,  A. Veronica       
Department Neurology, MPI for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Max Planck Society;

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Pachter_2024.pdf
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Pachter_2024_Suppl.docx
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Citation

Pachter, D., Kaplan, A., Tsaban, G., Zelicha, H., Meir, A. Y., Rinott, E., et al. (2024). Glycemic control contributes to the neuroprotective effects of mediterranean and green-mediterranean diets on brain age: The DIRECT PLUS brain-MRI randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 120(5), 1029-1036. doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.09.013.


Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-000F-E0D7-1
Abstract
Background: We recently reported that Mediterranean (MED) and green-MED diets significantly attenuated age-related brain atrophy by ∼50% within 18 months.

Objective: To explore the contribution of specific diet-induced parameters to brain volume deviation from chronological age.

Methods: A post-hoc analysis of the 18-month DIRECT-PLUS trial, where participants were randomly assigned to: (1)-healthy-dietary-guidelines (HDG); (2)-MED diet; or (3)-green-MED diet, high in polyphenols and low in red meat. Both MED groups consumed 28g walnuts/day (+440mg/day polyphenols). The green-MED group further consumed green-tea (3-4 cups/day) and Mankai green shake (Wolffia-globosa aquatic plant) (+800mg/day polyphenols). We collected blood samples through the intervention and followed brain structure volumes by magnetic-resonance-imaging (MRI). We used hippocampal-occupancy (HOC) score (hippocampal and inferior-lateral-ventricle volumes ratio) as a neurodegeneration marker and brain age proxy. We applied multivariate-linear-regression models.

Results: Of 284 participants (88% male; age=51.1years; BMI=31.2kg/m2; HbA1c=5.48%; APOE-ε4 genotype=15.7%), 224 completed the trial with eligible whole-brain MRIs. Individuals with higher HOC-deviations (i.e., younger brain age) presented lower body weight (r=-0.204;95%CI[-0.298,-0.101]), waist-circumference (r=-0.207;95%CI[-0.310,-0.103]), diastolic (r=-0.186;95%CI[-0.304,-0.072]), and systolic blood pressure (r=-0.189;95%CI[-0.308,-0.061]), insulin (r=-0.099;95%CI[-0.194,-0.004]) and HbA1c (r=-0.164;95%CI[-0.337,-0.006]) levels. After 18 months, greater changes in HOC-deviations (i.e., brain-age decline attenuation) were independently associated with improved HbA1c (β=-0.254;95%CI[-0.392,-0.117]), HOMA-IR (β=-0.200;95%CI[-0.346,-0.055]) fasting glucose (β=-0.155;95%[CI -0.293,-0.016]), and s-CRP (β=-0.153;95%[CI -0.296,-0.010]). Improvement in diabetes status was associated with greater HOC-deviation changes compared to either no change in diabetes status (0.010;95%CI]0.002,0.019[) or with an unfavorable change (0.012;95%CI]0.002,0.023]). A decline in HbA1c is further associated with greater deviation changes in the Thalamus, Caudate nucleus, and Cerebellum (p<0.05). Greater consumption of Mankai and green-tea (green-MED diet components) were associated with greater HOC-deviation changes beyond weight loss.

Conclusions: Glycemic control contributes to the neuroprotective effects of the MED and green-MED diets on brain age. Polyphenols-rich diet components as Mankai and green-tea may contribute to a more youthful brain age.