Recent findings presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2025 reveal that adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet is associated with improved brain health among Hispanic and Latino adults. This significant research emphasizes the potential cognitive benefits of a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats—elements already staples in many Hispanic diets.
The Mediterranean diet focuses on consuming an abundance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, and olive oil as the primary fat source. “We have observed that cardiovascular health directly impacts brain structures; the effect of the Mediterranean diet on communication between regions of the brain remains somewhat independent of cardiovascular health,” said Gabriela Trifan, MD, assistant professor of neurology at the University of Illinois in Chicago, and the study’s lead researcher.
Canva
The study analyzed data from approximately 2,800 participants between the ages of 18 and 74 enrolled in the Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging-MRI Ancillary project.
Participants’ adherence to the Mediterranean diet was scored on a scale from zero to nine, with higher scores indicating greater compliance. The average score was 5.01. Brain health markers were assessed using specialized MRI techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) to identify microscopic and visible changes.
The Mediterranean diet’s impact on brain health
For each point increase in the Mediterranean diet score, researchers observed measurable improvements in white matter integrity, a critical factor in effective brain communication, and a reduction in white matter hyperintensity burden—an indicator of small vessel brain disease.
“This suggests that even small improvements in diet improved brain integrity,” Trifan said.
The study highlights how healthy diets, particularly the Mediterranean diet, support white matter integrity by reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and maintaining healthy blood vessels.
Other studies have linked adherence to the Mediterranean diet with less brain atrophy, but this research is the first large-scale study focused specifically on Hispanics and Latinos, a demographic projected to become the fastest-growing ethnic group in the US.
“These results matter because many health care professionals may not know about the eating habits of Hispanic/Latino adults, who consume many foods from the Mediterranean diet,” said Philip B. Gorelick, MD, MPH, FAHA, of Northwestern University, who was not involved in the study. “The findings support the American Heart Association’s advice to follow this diet as one of the dietary plans that may help prevent strokes and potentially avoid cognitive issues.”
Getty
Researchers found that the benefits of the Mediterranean diet extend beyond cardiovascular risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol. Trifan emphasized that the positive effects on brain health are also influenced by reduced inflammation and oxidative stress.
However, the study’s authors acknowledged limitations, including the reliance on self-reported dietary data and the possibility that participants’ dietary habits changed during the study period. Nevertheless, the findings underscore the Mediterranean diet’s potential to enhance brain integrity among Hispanic and Latino individuals without significantly altering their traditional eating patterns.
Fluctuating cholesterol levels may signal increased dementia risk
Adding to the conversation on brain health, a study published in the January 29, 2025 online issue of Neurology found that older adults with fluctuating cholesterol levels are more likely to develop dementia than those with stable cholesterol levels, regardless of the actual cholesterol level. The research sheds light on cholesterol variability as a potential new biomarker for dementia risk.
“These results suggest that fluctuating cholesterol, measured annually, may be a new biomarker for identifying people at risk of dementia, providing more information than the actual cholesterol levels measured at a single time point,” said Zhen Zhou, PhD, of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, who led the study.
Canva
The study tracked 9,846 participants with an average age of 74 over approximately 5.5 years. None of the participants had dementia or significant memory issues at the study’s outset.
Participants’ cholesterol levels were measured at four annual intervals, and they were divided into quartiles based on the degree of change between their first and fourth cholesterol measurements. On average, the largest fluctuations in cholesterol levels were 91 mg/dL, while the smallest changes averaged 22 mg/dL.
During the follow-up period, 509 participants developed dementia. The group with the highest cholesterol variability experienced a dementia rate of 11.3 per 1,000 person-years, compared to 7.1 per 1,000 person-years in the group with the least variation.
Eduardo Barrios | Usplash
After adjusting for factors such as age, smoking status, and high blood pressure, researchers found that individuals in the high-change group were 60 percent more likely to develop dementia. Fluctuations in LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, were particularly associated with increased risk, while no such link was found with HDL, or “good” cholesterol, or triglycerides. Additionally, changes in cholesterol levels were linked to cognitive impairment that did not meet the criteria for dementia.
“Older people’s cholesterol should be monitored for changes over time to help identify people who may be at risk of cognitive impairment or dementia and could benefit from interventions, which could include lifestyle changes or making sure they start or keep taking statin to prevent fluctuations in their cholesterol and potentially reduce the risk of dementia,” Zhou said. However, the study’s authors noted limitations, including potential inaccuracies due to unreported changes in medication dosages or inconsistent adherence to prescribed regimens.
This research adds to the growing body of evidence linking cardiovascular health and brain health. As the global population ages, identifying modifiable risk factors for dementia—such as cholesterol variability—becomes increasingly critical. The National Heart Foundation of Australia supported this study, which highlights the need for proactive monitoring of cholesterol levels over time to identify at-risk individuals and implement early interventions.
Both studies reinforce the interconnectedness of diet, cardiovascular health, and brain integrity. The Mediterranean diet’s role in improving white matter integrity and cholesterol variability’s link to dementia risk underscore the importance of lifestyle choices in preserving cognitive health. As research continues, healthcare professionals and individuals alike are encouraged to prioritize dietary and cardiovascular interventions to support long-term brain health.