🧠Dietary Patterns and Accelerated Multimorbidity in Older Adults
How a Healthy Diet Slows Chronic Illness in Aging
A Mediterranean-style diet may do more than just protect your heart; it could help slow the accumulation of multiple chronic diseases, including those affecting the brain.
Published In: Nature Aging
Date: June 2025
Authors: Abbad-Gomez et al.
Link to Study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-025-00929-8
Summary
This 15-year study tracked nearly 2,500 older adults in Sweden to understand how different eating patterns influenced the development of multiple chronic diseases, including those impacting brain health. Diets rich in whole foods, like the MIND, AHEI, and Mediterranean diets, were linked to a slower buildup of total, cardiovascular, and neuropsychiatric conditions. In contrast, a pro-inflammatory diet (EDII) sped up disease accumulation.
Key Takeaways
✅ Diets like MIND, AHEI, and Mediterranean were tied to slower accumulation of chronic diseases.
✅ Benefits were especially strong for brain-related (neuropsychiatric) and heart-related conditions.
✅ Pro-inflammatory diets accelerated the rate of disease development.
✅ The protective effects were stronger in women and adults over 78 years old.
✅ No significant link was found between diet and musculoskeletal diseases.
Why It Matters for You
Making nutritious food choices, especially those aligned with Mediterranean or brain-healthy diets such as the MIND diet, can help reduce the number of chronic conditions you develop as you age. Even in your late 70s or beyond, improving diet quality could still make a meaningful difference.
Citation
Abbad-Gomez, D., Carballo-Casla, A., Beridze, G., et al. (2025). Dietary patterns and accelerated multimorbidity in older adults. Nature Aging. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-025-00929-8