Trial of the MIND Diet for Prevention of Cognitive Decline in Older Persons.

Background: Findings from observational studies suggest that dietary patterns may offer protective benefits against cognitive decline, but data from clinical trials are limited. The Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, known as the MIND diet, is a hybrid of the Mediterranean diet and the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, with modifications to include foods that have been putatively associated with a decreased risk of dementia.

Methods: We performed a two-site, randomized, controlled trial involving older adults without cognitive impairment but with a family history of dementia, a body-mass index (the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) greater than 25, and a suboptimal diet, as determined by means of a 14-item questionnaire, to test the cognitive effects of the MIND diet with mild caloric restriction as compared with a control diet with mild caloric restriction.

Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) study: Rationale, design and baseline characteristics of a randomized control trial of the MIND diet on cognitive decline.

Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., with an estimated $305 billion cost of care in 2020.

A Multimethod Investigation Into Physical Activity in Midlife Women.

Background: Physical inactivity in midlife women is associated with increased intra-abdominal adipose tissue development. We describe an innovative multimethod study 1) to better understand barriers to physical activity (PA) and 2) to engage midlife women to product test physical activities and identify local community-based providers and sustainable and fun PA experiences.

Methods: Formative research on PA barriers from the Chicago site Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) ancillary study of midlife women was used to develop a pilot testing measure.

Design of a lifestyle intervention to slow menopause-related progression of intra-abdominal adipose tissue in women: The Women in the Southside Health and Fitness (WISHFIT) study.

Background: Changes in reproductive hormones during menopause are associated with accumulation of intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT), a subclinical indicator of cardiometabolic disease risk. Independent of reproductive hormones, unhealthy lifestyle contributes to IAAT gain. The Women in the Southside Health and Fitness (WISHFIT) Study aims to develop a lifestyle approach to slowing IAAT accumulation as women begin the menopausal transition.