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Dietary patterns and cognitive decline among older adults: Findings from Sydney Memory and Aging Study
Author(s) -
Chen Xi Sophie,
Oleary Fiona,
Liu Zhixin,
Brodaty Henry
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.042450
Subject(s) - mediterranean diet , cognitive decline , cognition , dash , medicine , gerontology , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , neuropsychology , depression (economics) , dementia , demography , psychology , psychiatry , disease , sociology , computer science , economics , macroeconomics , operating system
Background Evidence suggested dietary patterns that may protect against cognitive decline among older adults, are mostly plant‐based, rich in poly‐/mono‐ unsaturated fatty acids, and low in processed foods. We aim to examine associations between diet with cognition and cognitive decline among older adults over a 6‐year period in Sydney Memory and Aging Study. Method Community dwelling participants (n=1037) were non‐demented and aged 70‐90 years at baseline. Diet was assessed using the 80‐item Cancer Council of Victoria FFQ at baseline, Mediterranean diet scores and DASH diet scores were generated based on dietary intake for individuals. Using PCA we have derived a‐posterori patterns. Neuropsychological tests assessed global cognition and 6 cognitive domains for 4 times, at baseline and followed up every two years. Linear mixed model analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between dietary scores, cognitive health, and cognition change over time, with adjustment for age, gender, education, BMI, cardiovascular risk factors, history of stroke, smoking, depression and APOE ε4 genotype. Result No significance was found between adherence to Mediterranean diet or DASH diet, and cognitive decline over 6 years. However, a total intake of legumes and nuts, was positively associated with better overall performance in cognitive domains including language (β=0.058; 95% CI: 0.028, 0.113; P=0.040), visuospatial (β=0.048; 95% CI: 0.008, 0.089; P=0.019) and global cognition (β=0.059; 95% CI:0.005, 0.112; P=0.033). The prudent healthy diet pattern was associated with cognitive health in women over time, in domains of memory (β=0.332; 95% CI: 0069, 0.596 ; P=0.014), verbal memory (β=0.313; 95% CI:0.056 ,0.569 ; P=0.017), visuospatial (β=0.271; 95% CI: 0.005,0.440; P=0.009), executive (β=0.352; 95% CI:0.073, 0.631; P=0.014), attention processing speed (β=0.273; 95% CI: 0.039,0.507 ; P=0.022) and global cognition (β=0.426; 95% CI: 0.141,0.711 ; P=0.004). Conclusion In this longitudinal analysis, a prudent healthy diet and high total intake of legumes and nuts, were associated with better cognitive performance over 6 years in various domains among older adults. Adherence to Mediterranean or DASH diet was not associated with cognitive change overtime.