The effectiveness and cost of adopting the Mediterranean diet among British older adults: a brief intervention with two levels of intensity

AbstractObjectivesThe purpose of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of depression later in life in an urban area and to investigate the associations between possible risk and protective factors including adherence to a Mediterranean diet.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among the active members of the open day-care centres for older people, in East-Attica, Greece. An anonymous questionnaire was developed to collect basic demographic and medical data, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was applied to screen the elderly for depressive symptoms, the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) was used to quantify sleep disturbances and adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated using the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS). Statistics was processed with SPSS 24.0.Results154 older adults took part in the study. According to GDS-15, 24.7% (21.4% moderate and 3.2% severe type) screened positive for depressive symptoms. 29.9% of the participants reported inadequate sleep, based on AIS. Depression and insomnia in older participants were more frequent in women than in men, in lower educated, in participants with lower monthly income and in older people with comorbidity (p < 0.05).MDS revealed that adherence to a Mediterranean diet was moderate for 64.3% of the participants, and it was high for 34.4%. Depression diagnosed by a physician, was strongly associated with MDS (p = 0.035) and AIS (p = 0.001). Logistic regression analysis results revealed a diet higher in vegetables and lower in poultry and alcohol was associated with decreased likelihood of developing symptoms of depression later in life.ConclusionsOur results support that depression in older adults is common and strongly associated with several risk factors. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet may protect against the development of depressive symptoms in older age. Moreover, not only diet but also sleep-deficiency might contribute to the depression later in life.

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Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Turkish Hospitalized Older Adults and Its Association with Hospital Clinical Outcomes

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics ◽

10.1016/j.archger.2021.104602 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 104602

Author(s):

Fatih ERGUL ◽

Fatih SACKAN ◽

Ahmet KOC ◽

Ibrahim GUNEY ◽

Muhammet Cemal KIZILARSLANOGLU

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Hospitalized Older Adults

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The Mediterranean Diet and Cognitive Function among Healthy Older Adults in a 6-Month Randomised Controlled Trial: The MedLey Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu8090579 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 579 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Alissa Knight ◽

Janet Bryan ◽

Carlene Wilson ◽

Jonathan Hodgson ◽

Courtney Davis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Randomised Controlled Trial ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Randomised Controlled

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Multiple approaches to associations of physical activity and adherence to the Mediterranean diet with all-cause mortality in older adults: the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea study

European Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.1007/s00394-018-1689-y ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 58 (4) ◽

pp. 1569-1578 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Gabriela Cárdenas-Fuentes ◽

Isaac Subirana ◽

Miguel A. Martinez-Gonzalez ◽

Jordi Salas-Salvadó ◽

Dolores Corella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Dieta Mediterranea ◽

Dieta Mediterránea

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NHANES 2011–2014 Reveals Cognition of US Older Adults may Benefit from Better Adaptation to the Mediterranean Diet

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12071929 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 1929

Author(s):

Matthew K. Taylor ◽

Jonathan D. Mahnken ◽

Debra K. Sullivan

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Cognitive Measures ◽

The Us ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Ad Prevention

Although the Mediterranean diet (MedD) has gained interest for potential Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prevention, it is unknown how well US older adults follow a MedD. We used two National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles (2011–2014) to conduct our primary aim of reporting population estimates of MedD adherence among older adults (60+ years) in the US (n = 3068). The mean MedD adherence score for US older adults was 5.3 ± 2.1 (maximum possible = 18), indicating that older adults in the US do not adhere to a MedD. There were various differences in MedD scores across demographic characteristics. We also assessed the cross-sectional relationship between MedD adherence and cognitive performance using survey-weighted ordinary least squares regression and binary logistic regression models adjusted for 11 covariates. Compared to the lowest MedD adherence tertile, the highest tertile had a lower odds ratio of low cognitive performance on three of five cognitive measures (p < 0.05 for each). Sensitivity analyses within participants without subjective memory complaints over the past year revealed similar results on the same three cognitive measures. We conclude that MedD interventions are a departure from usual dietary intake of older adults in the US and are a reasonable approach for AD prevention trials.

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Association among Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Cardiovascular, Obesity, and Anthropometric Variables of Overweight and Obese Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12092750 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 2750 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Pablo J. Marcos-Pardo ◽

Noelia González-Gálvez ◽

Alejandro Espeso-García ◽

Tomás Abelleira-Lamela ◽

Abraham López-Vivancos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Fat Mass ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Independent Factor ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Double Product ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Mediterranean

The aim of this study was to evaluate the independent and combined associations between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (AMedDiet), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and different parameters of overweight and obese middle-aged and older adults. Sixty-two participants were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Fat mass was measured with Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. AMedDiet and physical activity (PA) were assessed with the PREDIMED and Global PA Questionnaire (GPAQ). Maximal aerobic power was assessed using the 6-min walk test. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure (BP) were measured with Omron M6, and double product (DP) and mean BP (MBP) were calculated. Kinanthropometry proportionality variables related to obesity were also calculated. Participants with a low CRF as an independent factor or together with a low AMedDiet obtained significantly higher BP, total and trunk fat mass, and proportionality variables (all p ˂ 0.0001). According to the multiple nonlinear regression analysis, Vo2max, AMedDiet, and sex explained 53.4% of SBP, with this formula: 238.611 − (3.63*Vo2max) + (0.044*Vo2max2) − (13.051*AMedDiet) + (0.68*AMedDiet2) + (12.887*sex). SBP and p rediction SBP with the new formula showed a correlation of 0.731 (p ˂ 0.0001); showing a difference between the values of −0.278 (p = 0.883). In conclusion, CRF as an independent factor and combined with AMedDiet can be associated with BP, body composition, and proportionality in overweight and obese middle-aged and older adults.

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Relationship Between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Health-Related Quality of Life and Life Satisfaction Among Older Adults

The journal of nutrition health & aging ◽

10.1007/s12603-017-0923-2 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 89-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

A. Zaragoza-Martí ◽

R. Ferrer-Cascales ◽

J. A. Hurtado-Sánchez ◽

A. Laguna-Pérez ◽

M. J. Cabañero-Martínez

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

The Mediterranean

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Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle Index Development for Older Adults

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzab038_025 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 413-413

Author(s):

Heather Hutchins-Wiese

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Short Version ◽

Dietary Habit ◽

Food Groups ◽

Base Of The Pyramid ◽

Research Fellowship ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Diet And Lifestyle

Abstract Objectives The Mediterranean diet is associated with many health benefits, yet it is typically only the food pattern that is assessed without consideration for lifestyle attributes that accompany a Mediterranean way of life. The Mediterranean diet pyramid includes lifestyle activities at the base of the pyramid such as regular physical activity (PA), adequate rest, conviviality, biodiversity and seasonality, traditional local and eco-friendly products, and culinary activities. The purpose of this study was to design and pilot test a Mediterranean diet and lifestyle index for older adults in the U.S. Methods The Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire was used to determine the alternative Mediterranean Diet Score (aMed). The short version of the Minnesota Leisure Time PA questionnaire and additional Mediterranean diet-related dietary habit and lifestyle questions were piloted in 75 older adults attending senior centers. Results Participants were primarily women (80.6%) and Caucasian (68%) with an average age of 71.89+/−7.60 years. A 27-item index including the aMed food groups, dietary habits, PA, culinary activities, purchasing of local and seasonal foods, and adequate rest resulted in a reliable score (α = 0.75). Individual index factors correlated with the overall Mediterranean diet and lifestyle score. Conclusions While this Mediterranean diet and lifestyle index resulted in good internal consistency; assessment of conviviality, especially for older adults in the time of Covid-19, need be re-evaluated as a lifestyle measure that can impact dietary intake and overall health. Funding Sources Eastern Michigan University Faculty Research Fellowship Award.

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