Dietary Patterns and Cognitive Dysfunction in a 12-Year Follow-up Study of 70 Year Old Men

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Olsson, Erika^{a; *} | Karlström, Brita^a | Kilander, Lena^b | Byberg, Liisa^c | Cederholm, Tommy^a | Sjögren, Per^a

Affiliations: [a] Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden | [b] Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Geriatrics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden | [c] Department of Surgical Sciences, Orthopedics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Erika Olsson, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, Uppsala Science Park, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. Tel.: +46 18 611 7980; Mobile: +46 70 4584954; Fax: +46 18 611 7976; E-mail: erika.olsson@pubcare.uu.se.

Abstract: Background:Adherence to dietary patterns has been associated with cognitive decline and dementia, but studies are inconsistent. Objective:Dietary patterns, i.e., WHO recommendations (Healthy Diet Indicator), a Mediterranean-like diet (modified Mediterranean Diet Score, mMDS), and a low carbohydrate high protein diet (LCHP), were related to incident cognitive dysfunction, as indicated by Alzheimer's disease (AD), all-type dementia, and all-type cognitive impairment, in a cohort of 1,138 elderly Swedish men. Methods:Dietary patterns were derived from 7-day records. Risk relations were calculated by Cox and logistic regression analyses, adjusted for potential confounders. Sensitivity analysis was performed in a subpopulation (n = 564) with energy intake according to the Goldberg cut-off. Results:During a mean follow-up of 12 years, 84, 143, and 198 men developed AD, all-type dementia, and all-type cognitive impairment, respectively. There was no association between Healthy Diet Indicator and any of the outcomes. Hazard ratios associated with 1 standard deviation (SD) increment in the LCHP score were 1.16 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.95, 1.43) for AD and 1.16 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.37) for all-type dementia. mMDS was not associated with dementia diagnosis. Odds ratio (OR)/1 SD increase for mMDS and all-type cognitive impairment was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.65, 1.05). In the subpopulation OR for mMDS and all-type cognitive impairment was 0.32 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.89). Conclusion:We found no strong associations with development of cognitive dysfunction for any of the dietary patterns investigated. However, there was a potentially beneficial association for a Mediterranean-like diet on the development of cognitive dysfunction in the subpopulation.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, cognition disorders, cohort study, dementia, diet, dietary carbohydrates, dietary proteins, Mediterranean diet

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-140867

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 109-119, 2015