Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative autoimmune condition that affects nearly three million people around the globe. It’s characterized by changes in the brain and nervous system that can lead to problems getting around and fatigue, among other symptoms. It can also affect cognition, causing cognitive impairment in some people.
The role of diet in disease treatment and management has long been explored as an option for a range of diseases. Could diet also play a role in the treatment of MS? A new study suggests yes.
According to research presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 75th Annual Meeting, following the Mediterranean diet may offer cognitive benefits and prevent against cognitive decline in people with MS. Specifically, researchers found that closely following the Mediterranean diet corresponded to a lower risk of cognitive decline.
While there are many components to the Mediterranean diet, they often revolve around consuming a few key food groups: fruits and vegetables, fatty fish, olive oil, and certain nuts. Studies have shown that this combination of foods, which are rich in fiber and mono and polyunsaturated fats, can have a number of health benefits, particularly on cardiovascular health. The Mediterranean diet has also been linked to reducing oxidative stress, which causes cellular damage and may play a role in causing MS. Researchers suspect that these antioxidative and anti-inflammatory benefits of the diet may be part of the reason it can offer cognitive benefits.
The study included 563 participants with MS. Participants completed self-reported questionnaires about their adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Participants were then stratified into group based on how closely they followed the diet. They also completed memory and thinking tests. When results of the tests were reviewed by group, it was clear that people who followed the diet closely had a 20% lower risk of developing cognitive impairment compared to those who did not closely follow the diet. Even after controlling for various other confounding variables, such as diabetes and hypertension, diet seemed to be the biggest predictor of a person’s cognitive impairment risk level.