Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss among older adults in high-income countries, but lifestyle may be an area where older adults can mitigate risk. Researchers looked at data from the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies in the United States and found a closer adherence to a Mediterranean diet is consistently associated with slower AMD progression. The most protective dietary changes included higher intake of fish, followed by higher intake of vegetables. Participants with the highest fish intake of 4 servings per week had a 31% lower risk of progression compared to the lowest fish intake of 0 to 1 servings per week. Higher vegetable intake of 3.5 servings per day was associated with 23% lower risk of progression compared with the lowest vegetable intake of 1 serving per day. Overall, the authors recommend individuals with AMD adopt the Mediterranean diet, or a similar dietary pattern, as the diet change appears beneficial at all disease stages.
American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2026 Aug 15; 288:12-21, doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2026.04.003. Epub Aug 15 2026. (Keenan TDL et al.)
The Mediterranean diet is widely recommended for its nutritional benefits and positive effects on health outcomes in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The presence of whole grains, a focus on fruits and vegetables, and a limited consumption of red meats and heavily processed foods are well-discussed. But what about wine? Researchers looked at a cohort of 7,447 participants at high risk for cardiovascular disease over a 4.8-year period and tracked the presence of heart disease. Participants following the Mediterranean diet who drank a moderate amount of wine (no more than 7 glasses per week) had slightly lower rates of cardiovascular disease than the participants following the Mediterranean diet who did not drink wine, though the difference between the groups was not large enough to be statistically significant. Overall, both groups showed significantly lower risk than people not consuming a Mediterranean diet at all, indicating that a small to moderate amount of wine as part of a healthy Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
European Heart Journal. 2026 July; 47 (27): 3591-3606; doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf1081. Epub 2026 Feb 11. (Martínez-González MA et al.)
A healthy diet like the Mediterranean diet is linked with a lower risk of other neurodegenerative diseases, so scientists wanted to see if this pattern applies to multiple sclerosis. Researchers followed 41,428 Swedish adults for 17 years to see how diet relates to risk of developing multiple sclerosis. Each one-point increase on the Mediterranean Diet Score (range: 0-9) was linked with a 14 percent lower risk of developing MS, with the link being strongest in nonsmokers and people under age 45.
Mult Scler. 2026 Jan;32(1):61-68. doi: 10.1177/13524585251396408. Epub 2025 Dec 15. (Ratti S et al.)
Moderate alcohol intake is a part of a traditional Mediterranean diet, yet many patients with liver disease are advised to avoid alcohol. In this review, researchers review the evidence on the Mediterranean diet, alcohol intake, and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (the most common type of liver disease) outcomes. They conclude that the Mediterranean diet is “the most important evidence-based dietary pattern associated with reduced metabolic and hepatic risks” and effectively lowers liver fat in patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.
Medicina (Kaunas). 2025 Oct 1;61(10):1777. doi: 10.3390/medicina61101777. (Barbería-Latasa M et al.)
A traditional Mediterranean diet is filled with numerous anti-inflammatory foods that are known to nourish both the body and the brain. In a study of 131,209 adults aged 40-69 years, following a Mediterranean diet was linked with a 21 percent lower risk of dementia over the 13.5-year study period.
J Nutr Health Aging. 2025 Jul;29(7):100564. doi: 10.1016/j.jnha.2025.100564. Epub 2025 May 1. (You Ji-Eun et al.)
The Mediterranean diet is well known as brain-healthy, and researchers wanted to quantify its protective effect. In a meta-analysis of 23 studies, following a Mediterranean diet was linked with an 11-30 percent lower risk of age-related cognitive disorders (Alzheimer’s, dementia and cognitive impairment).
Geroscience. 2025 Jun;47(3):3111-3130. doi: 10.1007/s11357-024-01488-3. Epub 2025 Jan 11. (Fekete M et al.)
When the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid was first introduced by Oldways in 1993, few could have predicted how much it would shape our understanding of global dietary patterns. In this review, researchers summarize the numerous health benefits of a Mediterranean diet, including cardiometabolic disease prevention, healthy aging, and healthy gut microbiome composition, as well as its alignment with sustainability. The review also reflects on how the development of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid led to the creation of the African Heritage Diet Pyramid, the Latin American Heritage Diet Pyramid, and the Asian Heritage Diet Pyramid, and thus opened the doors to further study of diverse cultural food traditions.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2025 May 13:S0002-9165(25)00259-X. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.04.036. Online ahead of print. (Hu FB et al.)
This review explores how gut microbiota dysbiosis (having fewer “friendly” bacteria in the gut and/or an overgrowth of potentially “unfriendly” gut bacteria) may lead to cognitive decline. The review also explores how a Mediterranean diet might support a healthy gut microbiome, and by extension, protect cognitive health. The authors also suggest that more research on the gut-brain axis may help us better treat and manage neurodegenerative diseases.
Foods. 2025 Apr 29;14(9):1559. doi: 10.3390/foods14091559. (Mafe AN et al.)
A new brain imaging study confirms the relationship between the Mediterranean diet and cognitive health. Researchers analyzed the diets, took brain images, and measured the cognitive performance of 615 older (70-year-old) adults without dementia. Those following a Mediterranean diet had better cognitive performance, and those following an EAT-Lancet (mostly plant-based) diet had a ticker cortex in their brains (an indicator of good cognitive performance).
Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Apr;21(4):e70191. doi: 10.1002/alz.70191. (Samuelsson J et al.)
It’s never too late to begin your journey to health. In a study of more than 1,000 adults in Europe, those closely or moderately following a Mediterranean diet at ages 40, 50, and 60 had a 26-28% lower risk of carotid plaque (fat in the arteries, which can eventually cause heart disease) at age 60.
Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2025 Mar 18:zwaf155. doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf155. (Almevall AD et al.)
Wellbeing isn’t just about the years in your life, it’s also about the life in your years. In a systematic review of 28 studies, following a Mediterranean diet was linked with significantly better health-related quality of life in both general populations and also in people with chronic diseases, especially in the physical domain (such as mobility, pain and fatigue).
Nutrients. 2025 Feb 5;17(3):577. doi: 10.3390/nu17030577. (Godos J et al.)
Diet and lifestyle can play a role in cancer prevention. In a study of 450,111 European adults in both Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean populations, those most closely following a Mediterranean diet were 6% less likely to develop obesity related cancers (such as colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and 11 other cancers) 15 years later.
JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Feb 3;8(2):e2461031. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.61031. (Aguilera-Buenosvinos I et al.)
