Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet and Its Effects on Frailty: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective: To collect and analyse relevant academic literature that examines the relationship between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and its influence on frailty in an elderly population. Methods: The literature used was gathered from Google Scholar, PubMed, and CINAHL, in January and February of 2026, to investigate the effect of adherence to a Mediterranean diet on frailty in the elderly. Eight academic papers met the inclusion criteria. Results: All of the studies used in this systematic review found that any degree of adherence to a Mediterranean diet can decrease the risk of developing frailty, including decreasing the risk of most of the diagnostic measurements for frailty. Conclusion: Adherence to a Mediterranean diet in the elderly has been shown to decrease the risk of developing frailty. Further research is needed to look at the relationship between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and healthy aging of younger populations.