The association between Mediterranean diet adherence and Parkinson's disease.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies have demonstrated an association between a Mediterranean-type diet and Alzheimer's risk. We assessed the association between Mediterranean-type diet adherence and Parkinson's disease (PD) status.


METHODS
Two hundred and fifty-seven PD participants and 198 controls completed the Willett semiquantitative questionnaire that quantifies diet during the past year. Scores were calculated using a 9-point scale; higher scores indicated greater adherence to the Mediterranean-type diet. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between PD status and Mediterranean-type diet, adjusting for caloric intake, age, sex, education, and ethnicity. Adjusted linear regression models were used to examine the association between Mediterranean-type diet adherence and PD age at onset.


RESULTS
Higher Mediterranean-type diet adherence was associated with reduced odds for PD after adjustment for all covariates (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.77-0.97; P = .010). Lower Mediterranean-type diet score was associated with earlier PD age at onset (β = 1.09; P = .006).


CONCLUSIONS
PD patients adhere less than controls to a Mediterranean-type diet. Dietary behavior may be associated with age at onset.
Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA. rna2104@columbia.edu
Roy N
RN
Alcalay
Yian
Y
Gu
Helen
H
Mejia-Santana
Lucien
L
Cote
Karen S
KS
Marder
Nikolaos
N
Scarmeas
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires