# The Association Between MIND Diet Adherence, Nutritional Status, and Psychosomatic Health in Adults Aged 60+: A Pilot Study

## TL;DR

This study found that poor nutrition and unhealthy eating are linked to worse mental health in older adults, while the MIND diet showed no significant benefit in this group.

## Contribution

The study highlights the importance of integrating nutritional and psychological assessments in geriatric care.

## Key findings

- Malnutrition risk is strongly associated with higher levels of distress, anxiety, and depression in seniors.
- Unhealthy food consumption is directly linked to psychological symptoms, but MIND diet adherence showed no significant correlation.
- Women reported higher levels of stress, anxiety, and somatisation compared to men.

## Abstract

What are the main findings?
Nutritional status (MNA) is a primary determinant of mental health, with malnutrition risk significantly increasing levels of distress, anxiety, and depression in seniors.Consumption of unhealthy foods (nHDI) is directly linked to psychological symptoms, whereas strict adherence to the MIND diet showed no significant correlation in this group.

Nutritional status (MNA) is a primary determinant of mental health, with malnutrition risk significantly increasing levels of distress, anxiety, and depression in seniors.

Consumption of unhealthy foods (nHDI) is directly linked to psychological symptoms, whereas strict adherence to the MIND diet showed no significant correlation in this group.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Geriatric interventions must integrate routine nutritional screening with psychological assessment to identify vulnerable individuals and support resilient ageing.Public health policies should prioritize reducing unhealthy food intake and improving overall nutritional status as key strategies for protecting senior mental health.

Geriatric interventions must integrate routine nutritional screening with psychological assessment to identify vulnerable individuals and support resilient ageing.

Public health policies should prioritize reducing unhealthy food intake and improving overall nutritional status as key strategies for protecting senior mental health.

Background/Objectives: Ageing is associated with reduced adaptive capacity, which may influence responses to chronic stress and contribute to adverse lifestyle changes. This study examined the relationships among diet quality, nutritional status, and psychosomatic health in adults aged 60+, while considering the role of psychological stress. Methods: A total of 372 participants were assessed using a validated FFQ to evaluate diet quality, the MNA to determine nutritional status, and anthropometric measurements. Psychological functioning was measured using the PSS-10, the 4DSQ, and the geriatric GDS scale. Results: No association was identified between adherence to the MIND diet and depressive or anxiety symptoms. However, depressive symptoms were positively associated with the consumption of unhealthy foods. Gender differences also emerged: women reported higher levels of perceived stress (PSS10 F: 13.5 M: 10.5; p < 0.001), anxiety (F: 0.97; M: 0.39; p < 0.01), and somatisation (F: 6.18; M: 4.22; p < 0.001), suggesting greater vulnerability to everyday stressors. Participants at risk of malnutrition displayed significantly higher levels (p < 0.05) of stress (8.33), depression (0.73), and anxiety (1.76) compared with well-nourished individuals (5.03; 0.33; 0.77, respectively). Conclusions: These findings underscore the significant relationship between nutritional status and mental functioning in older adults. They emphasise the need to integrate nutritional assessment with somatic and psychological evaluation to better support the health and well-being of seniors and to improve understanding of the interactions between diet, stress, and psychosomatic functioning in the ageing process.