Fish consumption and brain structure: a comprehensive systematic review of observational studies Justyna Godos, Giuseppe Caruso, Agnieszka Micek, Alberto Dolci, Zoltan Ungvari, et al. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 2026 Background Age-related structural changes in the human brain, including cortical atrophy, reductions in grey and white matter volumes, and the accumulation of small vessel–related lesions such as white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and cerebral microbleeds, represent critical biological substrates underlying cognitive decline and dementia. Fish consumption has been associated with slower cognitive decline and reduced risk of dementia, but a comprehensive evaluation of its relation with brain structures is lacking. Aims The aim of this study was to systematically review current scientific literature providing evidence of relation between fish intake and brain structures in human studies. Methods Studies indexed in two major electronic databases have been screened based on a combination of keywords and MeSH terms. Studies were eligible whether they assessed fish consumption in relation to brain structures in the adult populations. Results A total of 24 studies conducted predominantly on older adults met inclusion criteria. Most brain volume measures were obtained via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures. Higher fish consumption was associated with reduced severity of white matter hyperintensities (a biomarker of cerebral small vessel disease and white matter damage) and cerebral micro-bleed, preservation of certain brain areas volumes (i.e., hippocampus, temporal lobe and periventricle white matter) and cortical thickness of specific areas (i.e., precuneus, parietal, and cingulate grey matter), among others, compared to lower intake. Some analyses found no association and isolated findings suggested possible adverse associations that were not consistently replicated. Studies reporting null findings may underline the possible relevance of the overall diet (i.e., adherence to the Mediterranean diet). Conclusions Inclusion of fish in a healthy and balanced diet is associated with better white matter grades on MRI and slower progression of white matter hyperintensities and reduction of vascular-related lesions of the aging brain, suggesting a potential role in preventing neurocognitive deterioration. Heterogeneity across studies underscores the need for additional studies.
Obesity rise plateaus in developed nations and accelerates in developing nations NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), Bin Zhou, Nowell H. Phelps, Agnese Galeazzi, Olivia N. O’Driscoll, et al. Nature, 2026 Global reporting of obesity is commonly based on comparisons over multiple decades 1 and lacks a granular and systematic analysis of its dynamics. We used 4,050 population-based studies with measured height and weight data on 232 million participants to assess the worldwide dynamics of obesity from 1980 to 2024. The rise in obesity decelerated in school-aged children and adolescents throughout the 1990s in many high-income countries, and subsequently plateaued in most at age-standardized prevalences spanning 20 percentage points, from 3–4% for girls in Japan, Denmark and France to 23% for boys in the USA. There were indications of a small decline in obesity in children and adolescents in some high-income western countries (for example, Italy, Portugal and France) since the 2000s. Similar trends were seen in some countries in Central and Eastern Europe. In adults, the rise in obesity slowed down in high-income western countries about a decade after children, followed by a plateau or possibly a small reversal of the rise in some countries (for example, Spain). In most low-income and middle-income countries, the annual absolute change in prevalence has remained stable or increased over time, even though prevalence has surpassed that of high-income countries. These highly varied dynamics suggest that the social, economic and technological trends that influence the availability, affordability and use of different foods may have helped control the rise in obesity in high-income countries, but require policy interventions in low-income and middle-income countries.
Loneliness, Aloneness, and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Southern Italian Individuals Justyna Godos, Giuseppe Caruso, Marco Antonio Olvera-Moreira, Francesca Giampieri, Kilian Tutusaus, et al. Nutrients, 2026 Background/Objectives: Research across multiple disciplines has explored how nutrition is shaped by social isolation and feelings of loneliness, especially in the elderly population. Evidence from neuroscience highlights that loneliness may alter eating patterns, encouraging emotional eating or other compensatory food behaviors. Conversely, isolation from social contexts is often linked to a reduced variety of nutrient intake. This study set out to examine how psychosocial aspects, particularly social connectedness and feeling alone, relate to adherence to the Mediterranean diet among older adults residing in Sicily, southern Italy. Methods: Dietary habits of 883 adults were collected through food frequency questionnaires and assessed for adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Loneliness was measured through a targeted question from a standardized tool designed to capture depressive symptoms. Direct questions asked whether participants were engaged in social networks, such as family, friends and neighborhoods, or religious communities, in order to assess objective aloneness. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess associations between variables of interest. Results: After accounting for potential confounders, both loneliness and aloneness showed an association with stronger adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Specifically, individuals experiencing loneliness and aloneness were less likely to have high adherence to the Mediterranean diet (OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.51, and OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.54, respectively). Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of fostering social engagement among older populations, who may particularly benefit from maintaining active social ties to support healthier eating behaviors.
Inflammatory potential of the diet and self-rated quality of life in Italian adults Francesca Giampieri, Justyna Godos, Giuseppe Caruso, Marco Antonio Olvera-Moreira, Fabrizio Furnari, et al. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2026 Background Dietary quality is widely acknowledged as a key factor in maintaining good health. Recommendations that promote plant-based eating patterns are largely grounded in evidence showing that dietary choices can modulate the immune function. In line with such a hypothesis, diet may be considered as a potential driver of persistent low-grade inflammation. Quality of life (QoL), on the other hand, serves as a broad indicator that encompasses both physical and psychological wellbeing. Aim The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between the inflammatory potential of the diet and QoL in a population sample of Italian adults. Design A total of 1,936 participants completed a 110-item food frequency questionnaire to assess eating habits. The inflammatory potential of their diet was calculated using the dietary inflammatory score (DIS). Quality of life was measured with the Manchester Short Appraisal (MANSA). Results Higher DIS values, reflecting a more pro-inflammatory diet, were linked to reduced likelihood of reporting high QoL (OR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.40–0.78). Several specific domains of QoL, including general life satisfaction, social relationships, personal safety, satisfaction with cohabitation, physical health, and mental health, also showed significant associations with DIS. Conclusion The findings suggest an association between the inflammatory potential of the diet and QoL.
Fish consumption and cognitive function in aging: a systematic review of observational studies Justyna Godos, Giuseppe Caruso, Agnieszka Micek, Alberto Dolci, Carmen Lili Rodríguez Velasco, et al. Geroscience, 2026 Epidemiological studies consistently link higher fish intake with slower rates of cognitive decline and lower dementia incidence. The aim of the present study was to systematically review existing observational studies investigating the association between fish consumption and cognitive function in older adults. A total of 25 studies (8 cross-sectional and 17 prospective including mainly healthy older adults, age range of participants ranging from 18 to 30 years at baseline in prospective studies to 65 to 91 years, representing the upper limit of the age spectrum) were reviewed. Cognitive functions currently investigated in most published studies included various domains, such as global cognition, memory (episodic, working), executive function (planning, inhibition, flexibility), attention and processing speed. Existing studies greatly vary in terms of design (cross-sectional and prospective), geographical area, number of participants involved, and tools used to assess the outcomes of interest. The main findings across studies are not univocal, with some studies reporting stronger evidence of association between fish consumption and various cognitive domains, while others addressed rather null findings. The most consistently responsive domains were processing speed, executive functioning, semantic memory, and global cognitive ability among individuals consuming fish at least weekly, which are highly relevant to both neurodegenerative and vascular forms of cognitive impairment. Positive associations were also observed for verbal memory and general memory, though these were less uniform and often attenuated after multivariable adjustment. In contrast, associations with reaction time, verbal-numerical reasoning, and broad composite scores were inconsistent, and several fully adjusted models showed null results. In conclusion, the evidence suggests that regular fish intake (typically ≥1–2 servings per week) is linked to preserved cognitive performance, although some inconsistent findings require further investigations. Graphical Abstract
Pharmacology of Caffeine Sebastiano Alfio Torrisi, Silvia Rizzo, Justyna Godos, Giuseppe Grosso, Gian Marco Leggio Food Chemistry Function and Analysis, 2025
Coffee and Neurodegenerative Diseases Justyna Godos, Sabrina Castellano, Marialaura Bonaccio, Raynier Zambrano-Villacres, Nadia Paladino, et al. Food Chemistry Function and Analysis, 2025
