TY - JOUR
T1 - Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and healthy ageing
T2 - Current evidence, biological pathways, and future directions
AU - Critselis, Elena
AU - Panagiotakos, Demosthenes
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Alexandra Foscolou, for her assistance in achieving consensus among the authors for the selection of the papers. This work was conducted within the context of the Ageing Trajectories of Health: Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies (ATHLOS) project (European Union?s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, grant agreement no. 635316).
Funding Information:
This work was conducted within the context of the Ageing Trajectories of Health: Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies (ATHLOS) project (European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, grant agreement no. 635316).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Funding Information:
This work was conducted within the context of the Ageing Trajectories of Health: Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies (ATHLOS) project (European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, grant agreement no. 635316).
Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Alexandra Foscolou, for her assistance in achieving consensus among the authors for the selection of the papers. This work was conducted within the context of the Ageing Trajectories of Health: Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies (ATHLOS) project (European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, grant agreement no. 635316).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2020/7/19
Y1 - 2020/7/19
N2 - With an ever-ageing population in developed countries, healthy ageing is an emerging public health priority for securing citizens’ quality of life and minimizing healthcare associated costs. While adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with numerous health benefits and deterrence of age-related disorders, a comprehensive review of the current evidence to guide further public health interventions is lacking. This study systematically assessed, according to PRISMA guidelines, current evidence arising from observational studies regarding the potential impact of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on healthy ageing among elder adults. Of 509 initially retrieved unique items, 9 studies (including 2 cross-sectional and 7 prospective cohort studies) were reviewed. The reviewed evidence support that adherence to the Mediterranean diet during midlife was associated with 36%–46% greater likelihood of healthy ageing. Among the elderly, adherence to the Mediterranean diet was significantly associated with healthy ageing, while diets similar to that of the Mediterranean diet were associated with 269% greater likelihood of successful ageing and 33% reduction in mortality risk. Therefore, public health interventions aimed at promoting adherence to the Mediterranean diet, particularly among the elderly, may propagate healthy ageing and diminish the healthcare associated costs associated with age-related morbidity and mortality.
AB - With an ever-ageing population in developed countries, healthy ageing is an emerging public health priority for securing citizens’ quality of life and minimizing healthcare associated costs. While adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with numerous health benefits and deterrence of age-related disorders, a comprehensive review of the current evidence to guide further public health interventions is lacking. This study systematically assessed, according to PRISMA guidelines, current evidence arising from observational studies regarding the potential impact of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on healthy ageing among elder adults. Of 509 initially retrieved unique items, 9 studies (including 2 cross-sectional and 7 prospective cohort studies) were reviewed. The reviewed evidence support that adherence to the Mediterranean diet during midlife was associated with 36%–46% greater likelihood of healthy ageing. Among the elderly, adherence to the Mediterranean diet was significantly associated with healthy ageing, while diets similar to that of the Mediterranean diet were associated with 269% greater likelihood of successful ageing and 33% reduction in mortality risk. Therefore, public health interventions aimed at promoting adherence to the Mediterranean diet, particularly among the elderly, may propagate healthy ageing and diminish the healthcare associated costs associated with age-related morbidity and mortality.
KW - healthy ageing
KW - Mediterranean diet
KW - mortality
KW - successful ageing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087435015&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10408398.2019.1631752
DO - 10.1080/10408398.2019.1631752
M3 - Review article
C2 - 31272195
AN - SCOPUS:85087435015
SN - 1040-8398
VL - 60
SP - 2148
EP - 2157
JO - Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
JF - Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
IS - 13
ER -