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Neuroprotective diets are associated with better cognitive function
The Health and Retirement Study
McEvoy, C. T., Guyer, H., Langa, K. M., & Yaffe, K. (2017). Neuroprotective diets are associated with better cognitive function: The Health and Retirement Study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 65(8), 1857-1862. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.14922
ObjectivesTo evaluate the association between the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and the Mediterranean-DASH diet Intervention for Neurodegeneration Delay (MIND diet) and cognition in a nationally representative population of older U.S. adults.
DesignPopulation-based cross-sectional study.
SettingHealth and Retirement Study.
ParticipantsCommunity-dwelling older adults (N=5,907; mean age 67.810.8).
MeasurementsAdherence to dietary patterns was determined from food frequency questionnaires using criteria determined a priori to generate diet scores for the MedDiet (range 0-55) and MIND diet (range 0-15). Cognitive performance was measured using a composite test score of global cognitive function (range 0-27). Linear regression was used to compare cognitive performance according to tertiles of dietary pattern. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between dietary patterns and clinically significant cognitive impairment. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race, educational attainment, and other health and lifestyle covariates.
ResultsParticipants with mid (odds ratio (OR)=0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.71-1.02, P=.08) and high (OR 0.65, 95% CI=0.52-0.81, P
ConclusionIn a large nationally representative population of older adults, greater adherence to the MedDiet and MIND diet was independently associated with better cognitive function and lower risk of cognitive impairment. Clinical trials are required to elucidate the role of dietary patterns in cognitive aging.
