Investigating the association of adherence to Mediterranean diet with depression symptoms in the elderly: this was the objective of the NutBrain (Nutrition, gUT microbiota, and Brain AgING) study conducted by the Institute for Biomedical Technologies of the National Research Council (CNR-ITB) in collaboration with the National Neurological Institute – IRCCS Mondino Foundation.
The study, whose results were published in the British Journal of Nutrition, enrolled approximately 800 people aged between 65 and 97 years resident in Lombardy. The risk of developing symptoms of depression increases with age and mainly concerns women. Data available in literature show an association between the Mediterranean diet and a reduced risk of depression in adolescents and adults, while there is limited data on the older population (≥65 years).
The study found that a good adherence to the Mediterranean diet, based on a high intake of fruit and vegetables, wholegrain cereals, fish and olive oil and a low consumption of foods of animal origin, significantly reduces the likelihood of developing depression symptoms by 54,6% and, in particular, showed an inverse significant association between fish intake and increase in the monounsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid ratio in women.
Even if further studies are needed in order to better understand the underlying biological mechanisms, these results confirm the importance of a healthy balanced diet in the prevention of mental disorders, especially in the older population.
