J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013 Feb;113(2):276-81.
Mediterranean diet, healthy eating index 2005, and cognitive function in middle-aged and older Puerto Rican adults.
Ye X, Scott T, Gao X, Maras JE, Bakun PJ, Tucker KL.
Source
Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Abstract
Adherence to a Mediterranean diet has recently been shown to protect against
cognitive decline and dementia. It remains unclear, however, whether such
protection extends to different ethnic groups and middle-aged individuals and
how it might compare with adherence to the US Department of Agriculture's 2005
Dietary Guidelines for Americans (measured with Healthy Eating Index 2005 [HEI
2005]). This study examined associations between diet quality, as assessed by
the Mediterranean diet and HEI 2005, and cognitive performance in a sample of
1,269 Puerto Rican adults aged 45 to 75 years and living in the Greater Boston
area of Massachusetts. Dietary intake was assessed with a food frequency
questionnaire specifically designed for and validated with this population.
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed with a 0- to 9-point scale, and
the HEI 2005 score was calculated with a maximum score of 100. Cognitive
performance was measured with a battery of seven tests and the Mini Mental State
Examination was used for global cognitive function. Greater adherence to the
Mediterranean diet was associated with higher Mini Mental State Examination
score (P trend=0.012) and lower likelihood (odds ratio=0.87 for each additional
point; 95% CI 0.80 to 0.94; P<0.001) of cognitive impairment, after adjustment
for confounders. Similarly, individuals with higher HEI 2005 score had higher
Mini Mental State Examination score (P trend=0.011) and lower odds of cognitive
impairment (odds ratio=0.86 for each 10 points; 95% CI 0.74 to 0.99; P=0.033).
In conclusion, high adherence to either the Mediterranean diet or the diet
recommended by the US Department of Agriculture 2005 Dietary Guidelines for
Americans can protect cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults.
Copyright © 2013 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc.
All rights reserved.
PMID: 23351632 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]