Variable Details
MIND diet score
Mediterranean-DASH diet intervention for neurodegenerative delay (MIND) diet score
The Mediterranean-DASH diet intervention for neurodegenerative delay (MIND) diet score measures participants' adherence to the MIND diet. The MIND diet is modeled after the Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) diets with modifications based on findings in the diet-dementia field. For example, the MIND diet emphasizes consumption of green leafy vegetables and berries but does not score other types of fruit.
Participants' nutritional information is recorded using the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Food items on the FFQ are categorized into 10 brain healthy food groups and 5 unhealthy food groups. Each diet component is scored from 0 to 1 based on frequency of consumption of each food item portion associated with that component.
The total MIND diet score ranges from 0 to 15 and is the sum of the 15 component scores. Higher scores indicate greater diet concordance.
Dietary component servings and scores:
| Dietary component | 0 | 0.5 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Leafy Vegetables | ≤2 servings/weekk | >2 to <7 servings/week | ≥7 servings/week |
| Other vegetables | <5 servings/week | ≥5 to <7 servings/week | ≥7 servings/week |
| Berries* | <1 serving/week | ≥1 to <5 servings/week | ≥5 servings/week |
| Nuts | <1 serving/week | ≥1 to <5 servings/week | ≥5 servings/week |
| Fish (not fried) | <1 serving/month or rarely | 1-3 serving(s)/month or <1 serving/week | ≥1 serving/week |
| Poultry (not fried, skinless) | <1 serving/week | ≥1 to <2 servings/week | ≥2 servings/week |
| Beans & Legumes | <1 serving/week | ≥1 to <3 servings/week | ≥3 servings/week |
| Whole Grains | <7 servings/week | ≥7 to <21 servings/week | ≥21 servings/week |
| Olive Oil | <7 tablespoons/week | ≥7 to <14 tablespoons/week | ≥14 tablespoons/week |
| Wine | <1 glass/month or ≥2 glasses/day | 1 glass/month to 1 glass/week | 2-7 glasses/week |
| Butter and Stick Margarine | ≥14 pats (teaspoons)/week | >7 to <14 pats/week | ≤7 pats/week |
| Full-fat Cheese | ≥7 servings/week | >2 to <7 servings/week | ≤2 servings/week |
| Red and Processed Meat | ≥7 meals/week | ≥4 to <7 meals/week | <4 meals/week |
| Fast and Fried Foods | ≥4 meals/week | >1 to <4 meals/week | ≤1 meal/week |
| Pastries & sweets | ≥7 servings/week | ≥5 to <7 servings/week | <5 servings/week |
*One serving of berries is considered as 1/2 cup considering the average intake by older adults in NHANES/WWEIA data.