MIND diet–related plasma proteins are associated with Alzheimer's disease risk

Abstract INTRODUCTION Adherence to the Mediterranean–Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet is associated with reduced dementia risk, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods

Plasma proteomics (SomaScan 7k) from 206 Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center participants were analyzed using network analysis to identify modules associated with MIND diet scores. Diet‐related hub proteins were then investigated for associations with Alzheimer's disease (AD) phenotypes and as potential diet–AD outcome mediators. Validation analyses were conducted in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (n = 10,228) and Global Neurodegeneration Proteomics Consortium (n = 3,723) datasets.

Results

Higher MIND diet scores were associated with lower AD odds (odds ratio = 0.75, p = 0.01) and lower plasma neurofilament light chain levels (β = −0.07, p = 0.02). Two proteins, MCTS1 and cytidylate kinase, were associated with MIND diet and AD risk, and may mediate their relationship (p[a × b < 0] ≥ 0.95). Validation analyses supported the MCTS1 finding.

Discussion

Vascular‐related biological mechanisms may underlie associations between diet and dementia risk.