Frontiers in Nutrition (Apr 2023)

Correlation between dietary patterns and cognitive function in older Chinese adults: A representative cross-sectional study

  • Ruoyu Gou,
  • Ruoyu Gou,
  • Jian Qin,
  • Weiyi Pang,
  • Weiyi Pang,
  • Jiansheng Cai,
  • Tingyu Luo,
  • Tingyu Luo,
  • Kailian He,
  • Kailian He,
  • Song Xiao,
  • Song Xiao,
  • Xu Tang,
  • Zhiyong Zhang,
  • Zhiyong Zhang,
  • You Li,
  • You Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1093456
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and cognitive function in older adults (≥60 years old).MethodsFood intake was quantitatively assessed by the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), and cognitive function was assessed by the Chinese version of the Simple Mental State Examination Scale (MMSE). Four major dietary patterns were identified by the factor analysis (FA) method. The relationship between dietary patterns and cognitive function was evaluated by logistic regression.ResultsA total of 884 participants were included in the study. Four dietary patterns (vegetable and mushroom, oil and salt, seafood and alcohol, and oil tea dietary patterns) were extracted. In the total population, Model III results showed that the fourth quartile of dietary pattern factor scores for the vegetable and mushroom pattern was 0.399 and 7.056. The vegetable and mushroom dietary pattern may be a protective factor for cognitive function, with p-value = 0.033, OR (95% CI): 0.578 (0.348, 0.951) in Model III (adjusted for covariates: sex, ethnic, marital, agricultural activities, smoking, drinking, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, BMI, and dietary fiber). In the ethnic stratification analysis, the scores of dietary pattern factors of the vegetable and mushroom among the Yao participants were 0.333 and 5.064. The Vegetable and mushroom diet pattern may be a protective factor for cognitive function, p-value = 0.012, OR (95% CI): 0.415 (0.206, 0.815).ConclusionThe fourth quartile of the vegetable and mushroom dietary pattern scores showed dose-dependent and a strong correlation with cognitive function. Currently, increasing vegetable and mushroom intake may be one of the effective ways to prevent and mitigate cognitive decline. It is recommended to increase the dietary intake of vegetables and mushroom foods.

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