(P09-025-25) Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) Diet Scores and Reflection Spectroscopy Among Adults in a Longitudinal Cohort

Objectives: To assess dietary intake in a longitudinal cohort using the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) screener and reflection spectroscopy.

Methods: In this ongoing study, participants of the New York University (NYU) Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) are asked to complete a subjective (15-item MIND diet questionnaire) and objective (reflection spectroscopy) diet assessment at their annual study visit. The Veggie Meter® reflection spectroscopy device measures carotenoid levels in skin. MIND diet total and component scores were analyzed by tertile, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare mean scores across tertiles.

Results: 96 participants have completed this study: 70.8% are female, and the mean age is 72.8 ± 7.1 years. The mean Veggie Meter® score is 340 ± 126 (max 850). The mean MIND diet score is 9.31 ± 1.93 (higher score is desirable; max 15, range: 5 - 14.5). Olive oil, beans, whole grains, and alcohol component scores are lowest (means: 0.41, 0.44, 0.40, and 0.10, respectively; 1= meets recommendations). Red meat and fast food are highest (0.94, and 0.91 respectively; 1= meets recommendations) with no significant difference between tertiles of total MIND diet scores.

Conclusions: Participants in the highest tertile have highest MIND diet scores in green leafy vegetables and berries compared to those in the lowest tertile. This suggests that people with greater scores consume more carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables, which may confer neuroprotection. While participants across all tertiles limit their red meat and fast food intake, the consistently low intake of olive oil, beans, and whole grains emphasizes the need for dietary interventions in older adults to increase consumption of these foods and improve MIND diet scores. These data can help to plan interventions specific to Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) risk reduction.

Funding Sources: This study is funded by the Alzheimer’s Association.