A group of Greek researchers conducted a review of 22 studies and found that adherence to a Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of stroke, depression, cognitive impairment, and Parkinson disease.

The study published in the journal Annals of Neurology lead by Theodora Psaltopoulou, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at the University of Athens School of Medicine, was a meta-analysis of eligible studies that covered stroke, Parkinson’s disease, cognitive impairment and depression. The researchers found that high adherence to the Mediterranean diet was consistently associated with reduced risk of stroke, depression and cognitive impairment. Moderate adherence was associated mostly with a reduced risk of depression and cognitive impairment but not so much for stroke.