Abstract Details

Title The Efficacy of the Mediterranean Diet Across the Spectrum of Neurological Disease: A Systematic Review

Topic General Neurology

Presentation(s) P1 - Poster Session 1 (8:00 AM-9:00 AM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 7-011

Objective To systematically review the evidence from studies on the efficacy of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) across a comprehensive range of neurological disorders.

Background

The MedDiet’s anti-inflammatory and metabolic benefits may translate to neuroprotection across diverse neurological disorders. Recent trials and observational work span cognition, stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease (PD), epilepsy, headache, sleep, and ALS.

Design/Methods PRISMA-guided search of PubMed and Google Scholar (through October 2025) identified human studies evaluating MedDiet interventions or validated adherence indices (e.g., MEDAS, Mediterranean Diet Score) with neurological outcomes (incident events or validated scales). Eligible designs were randomized trials, cohort, case–control, and cross-sectional studies with a comparator. Inclusion required full-text, English-language reports; prespecified MedDiet exposure; clearly defined neurological outcomes; and sufficient extractable data (population, exposure, duration/follow-up, primary results). We excluded animal studies, case reports, reviews; non-Mediterranean diets; and studies without a comparator or validated outcome.

Results Twenty-nine studies met inclusion criteria. High-level evidence from two PREDIMED sub-trials showed a supplemented MedDiet improved global cognition in older adults at vascular risk. A large RCT reanalysis confirmed a reduction in major cardiovascular events, including stroke. In multiple sclerosis, a 6-month pilot RCT demonstrated reduced fatigue and a favorable EDSS trajectory, with two other RCTs corroborating the fatigue reduction. For neurodegenerative disorders, a longitudinal cohort linked higher MedDiet adherence to a lower incidence of prodromal Parkinson's disease. Cross-sectional data further associated the diet with lower odds of epilepsy, fewer and shorter migraine attacks, and improved sleep quality. In contrast, an interventional study in ALS found no benefit on functional decline despite modulating biomarkers.

Conclusions The MedDiet is associated with significant benefits across multiple neurological domains, particularly in cerebrovascular and cognitive health. This synthesis supports its trans-diagnostic potential, and large, disease-specific RCTs are now warranted to confirm causality.

Authors/Disclosures
Yiorgos Antoniadis, MD (School) PRESENTER	Mr. Antoniadis, MD has nothing to disclose.
Kanishka Khatri, MBBS	Dr. Khatri has nothing to disclose.
Anshum Patel	Dr. Patel has nothing to disclose.