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Medicine Advances 2023, 1(3): 246-259 https://doi.org/10.1002/med4.35
Original Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 26 September 2023

Association of dietary patterns with cognitive function in older people: Results from the Chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey

Show Author's Information Haiqing Zheng1,,  Huixian Li1,,  Lingcong Kong1,  Xueli Zhang2,  Yunfei Gao2,  Lianting Hu1( ),  Xianwen Shang3( ),  Huiying Liang1 ( )
Medical Big Data Center, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

Haiqing Zheng and Huixian Li contributed equally to this work.

Keywords:
cognitive function, cluster analysis, older people, dietary patterns, mini‐mental state examination
Cite this article:
Zheng H, Li H, Kong L, et al. Association of dietary patterns with cognitive function in older people: Results from the Chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey. Medicine Advances, 2023, 1(3): 246-259. https://doi.org/10.1002/med4.35
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Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article
Background

Dietary patterns are crucial for maintaining cognitive health among older people and can be modified through lifestyle interventions. We investigated the associations between dietary patterns, changes in these patterns over time, and cognitive function.

Methods

This cohort study utilized data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey conducted between 2005 and 2014. The sample included 7472 participants (mean age: 81.45 ± 10.88 years). Dietary patterns were derived using cluster analysis. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). The relationships between dietary patterns/changes, MMSE scores, changes in MMSE scores, and cognitive impairment were analyzed using the generalized estimating equation method, linear regression, and logistic regression.

Results

Cluster analysis identified three major dietary patterns: balanced diet, relatively balanced diet, and unbalanced diet. Mean MMSE scores decreased from 24.71 ± 7.24 in 2005 to 22.22 ± 9.29 in 2008, then increased to 24.10 ± 7.76 in 2014. Participants who adhered to balanced diet patterns exhibited significantly higher MMSE scores (1.56; 95% confidence interval: 1.34, 1.78) than those who followed unbalanced diet patterns. This association was particularly prominent among older individuals, women, individuals with no education, and underweight individuals. Participants with relatively balanced or balanced diets showed a significantly lower risk of cognitive impairment (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.65, 0.80; OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.42, 0.53, respectively) than those with unbalanced diets. Transitioning from an unhealthy diet to a healthy diet was associated with a smaller decline in MMSE scores and reduced risk of cognitive impairment.

Conclusions

These findings emphasize the importance of balanced or relatively balanced diets in preserving cognitive health in older individuals. These patterns relate to better MMSE scores and reduced cognitive impairment risk. Shifting from unhealthy to healthy diets is linked to improved MMSE scores and lower cognitive impairment risk. These results underscore the importance of dietary interventions in mitigating cognitive decline in older adults. Further research is warranted to understand the underlying mechanisms and develop targeted strategies for promoting healthy dietary habits in this population.


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Abstract
Full text
Outline
Electronic supplementary material
About this article

Association of dietary patterns with cognitive function in older people: Results from the Chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey

Show Author's information Haiqing Zheng1,, Huixian Li1,, Lingcong Kong1, Xueli Zhang2, Yunfei Gao2, Lianting Hu1( ), Xianwen Shang3( ), Huiying Liang1 ( )
Medical Big Data Center, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

Haiqing Zheng and Huixian Li contributed equally to this work.

Abstract

Background

Dietary patterns are crucial for maintaining cognitive health among older people and can be modified through lifestyle interventions. We investigated the associations between dietary patterns, changes in these patterns over time, and cognitive function.

Methods

This cohort study utilized data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey conducted between 2005 and 2014. The sample included 7472 participants (mean age: 81.45 ± 10.88 years). Dietary patterns were derived using cluster analysis. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE). The relationships between dietary patterns/changes, MMSE scores, changes in MMSE scores, and cognitive impairment were analyzed using the generalized estimating equation method, linear regression, and logistic regression.

Results

Cluster analysis identified three major dietary patterns: balanced diet, relatively balanced diet, and unbalanced diet. Mean MMSE scores decreased from 24.71 ± 7.24 in 2005 to 22.22 ± 9.29 in 2008, then increased to 24.10 ± 7.76 in 2014. Participants who adhered to balanced diet patterns exhibited significantly higher MMSE scores (1.56; 95% confidence interval: 1.34, 1.78) than those who followed unbalanced diet patterns. This association was particularly prominent among older individuals, women, individuals with no education, and underweight individuals. Participants with relatively balanced or balanced diets showed a significantly lower risk of cognitive impairment (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.65, 0.80; OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.42, 0.53, respectively) than those with unbalanced diets. Transitioning from an unhealthy diet to a healthy diet was associated with a smaller decline in MMSE scores and reduced risk of cognitive impairment.

Conclusions

These findings emphasize the importance of balanced or relatively balanced diets in preserving cognitive health in older individuals. These patterns relate to better MMSE scores and reduced cognitive impairment risk. Shifting from unhealthy to healthy diets is linked to improved MMSE scores and lower cognitive impairment risk. These results underscore the importance of dietary interventions in mitigating cognitive decline in older adults. Further research is warranted to understand the underlying mechanisms and develop targeted strategies for promoting healthy dietary habits in this population.

Keywords: cognitive function, cluster analysis, older people, dietary patterns, mini‐mental state examination

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Publication history

Received: 17 April 2023
Revised: 30 May 2023
Accepted: 14 June 2023
Published: 26 September 2023
Issue date: September 2023

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© 2023 The Authors. Tsinghua University Press.

Acknowledgements

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank all the CLHLS participants sincerely. Huiying Liang was supported by the Excellent Young Scientists Fund (82122036). The funder played no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

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This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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