The role of the MIND diet in Alzheimer's disease patients: A case-control study on malnutrition and depression.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between depression, malnutrition, and the Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet in Alzheimer's disease patients. METHODS: This study included 30 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 30 healthy controls. A questionnaire form including sociodemographic characteristics was applied to the individuals. In addition, anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, nutritional status (Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and MIND diet scores) and mental health status [Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)]. RESULTS: BDI and BAI scores were significantly higher in the AD group compared to the control group. MIND diet score was found to be significantly lower in the AD group compared to the control group (independent t-tests, P < 0.05). Higher adherence to the MIND diet was significantly associated with lower malnutrition and depression scores among Alzheimer's disease patients (correlation analyses, P < 0.05). The risk of developing AD was found to be 2.034 times higher in those with high malnutrition status (logistic regression analysis, 95% CI; 1.143-3.621; P = 0.016, R2: 44.2%). Those with a high MIND diet score had an approximately 2.879-fold increased chance of being healthy (logistic regression analysis, 95% CI; 1.506-5.503; P = 0.001, R2: 44.2%). According to ROC analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) for the depression score was 0.946 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that adherence to the MIND diet may support nutrition and psychological well-being in AD and highlight the value of integrating nutrition-based approaches into dementia care.