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The relationship between nutrient intake and cognitive performance in people at risk of dementia
R Salerno-Kennedy1, K D Cashman
1Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. r.kennedy@ucc.ie
Background:
There is evidence of a link between nutrient intake and cognitive impairment and decline in old age. There has been no study of nutrient intake in Irish subjects at risk of dementia.
Aim:
To investigate the possible link between nutrient intake and cognitive performance in a group of Irish adults at risk of dementia, and to compare the nutrient intake in these adults stratified by the absence or presence of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon4 allele.
Method:
Forty-four subjects, who were first-degree blood relatives of people with Alzheimer's disease, were recruited. Cognitive performance and nutritional intake were assessed and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype determined.
Results:
The intakes of cholesterol (P < 0.037) and Na (P < 0.037) were significantly higher in subjects with altered cognitive performance. There was no significant difference in nutrient intakes between APOE epsilon-4 allele positive and APOE epsilon-4 allele negative subjects.
Conclusion:
The findings of this work suggest that dietary cholesterol and sodium intake may be linked to cognitive impairment.
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