Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41228399›Full record

ArticleNutrients2025

Mediterranean and MIND Dietary Patterns and Cognitive Performance in Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the UK Multiple Sclerosis Register.

Maggie Yu, Steve Simpson-Yap, Annalaura Lerede, Richard Nicholas, Shelly Coe, Thanasis G Tektonidis, Eduard Martinez Solsona, Rod Middleton, Yasmine Probst, Adam Hampshire and 7 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nutrients, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Maggie YuNeuroepidemiology Unit, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3010, Australia.
Steve Simpson-YapNeuroepidemiology Unit, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3010, Australia.
Annalaura LeredeDepartment of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-0903-8606
Richard NicholasDepartment of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.
Shelly CoeSchool of Sport, Nutrition and Allied Health Professions, Oxford Institute for Applied Health Research, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-0508-7507
Thanasis G TektonidisSchool of Sport, Nutrition and Allied Health Professions, Oxford Institute for Applied Health Research, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-9655-1389
Eduard Martinez SolsonaSchool of Sport, Nutrition and Allied Health Professions, Oxford Institute for Applied Health Research, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK.
Rod MiddletonPopulation Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
Yasmine ProbstSchool of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1971-173X
Adam HampshireDepartment of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.
Elasma MilanziCentre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3010, Australia.
Guangqin CuiNeuroepidemiology Unit, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3010, Australia.
Rebekah Allison DavenportMelbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-0426-2158
Sandra NeateNeuroepidemiology Unit, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3010, Australia.
Mia PisanoNeuroepidemiology Unit, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3010, Australia.
Harry KirklandNeuroepidemiology Unit, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3010, Australia.
Jeanette ReeceNeuroepidemiology Unit, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3010, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2897-0271

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic auto-immune neuroinflammatory disorder presenting as a range of systemic and neurological symptoms, including cognitive impairment. Emerging evidence suggests that diets targeting brain health-such as the Mediterranean (MED) and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diets-may improve cognitive function; however, studies examining their role in people living with MS are limited.

methodsWe examined cross-sectional associations between diet and cognition data from 967 participants in the United Kingdom Multiple Sclerosis Register (UKMSR). Dietary pattern scores (alternate Mediterranean; aMED, and MIND) were derived from the 130-item EPIC-Norfolk food frequency questionnaire. Cognition was assessed using the MS-specific Cognitron-MS (C-MS) battery (13 tasks) and summarised as overall cognition (global G factor) and four domains (object memory, problem solving, information processing speed [IPS], and words memory). Cognitive outcomes were expressed as Deviation-from-Expected (DfE) scores standardised to demographic and device characteristics using external regression-based norms. Linear models were adjusted for total energy intake, MS phenotype, disease duration since diagnosis, and current disease-modifying therapy (DMT) use. Interactions tested moderation by MS phenotype (relapsing vs. progressive MS) and current DMT use (yes vs. no). Sensitivity analyses included within-domain multiple-comparison control, rank-based inverse-normal transformation, and winsorisation.

resultsGreater alignment with aMED and MIND dietary patterns were associated with higher scores in specific cognitive domains but not in overall cognition. Higher aMED scores were associated most consistently with better IPS, while higher MIND scores were additionally associated with better words memory. In categorical models, participants with the middle or highest tertiles of aMED or MIND scores performed up to ~0.4 SD better on tasks of Verbal Analogies, Word Definitions, Simple Reaction Time, Words Memory Immediate, or Words Memory Delays compared with those in the lowest tertile. These findings were robust across sensitivity analyses. Stratified analyses showed differential cognitive performance and diet-cognition associations by MS phenotype and DMT use.

conclusionsMediterranean and MIND dietary patterns showed modest cross-sectional associations with specific cognition domains, with differential cognitive performance in different subgroups according to MS phenotype and DMT use. Although causal inference is not possible, our findings indicate future MS-related dietary studies (longitudinal and/or randomised controlled trials) examining cognitive function domains across different MS subgroups are warranted.

Indexed as

CognitionCognitive DysfunctionDiet, MediterraneanMultiple SclerosisAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRegistriesUnited Kingdomcognitive performancecross-sectional studymediterranean dietMIND dietmultiple sclerosis

Identifiers

PMID41228399
PMCPMC12608189

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.