Dietary patterns and cognitive decline in Taiwanese aged 65 years and older

This study examines the association between dietary patterns and cognitive decline in Taiwanese aged 65 years and older.

Data were from a population-based longitudinal study, the Taiwan Longitudinal Study of Aging, with a nationally representative sample.

Nearly 2%, 8%, and 3% of participants had a western, traditional, and healthy dietary pattern, respectively. Western and traditional dietary patterns were negatively associated with subsequent short portable mental state questionnaire score over 4 and/or 8 years (all p < 0.05), whereas a healthy dietary pattern was not. Western dietary patterns significantly increased, by nearly threefold, the risk of subsequent cognitive decline over 8 years (adjusted odds ratio = 4.35, 95% confidence interval = 1.52-12.50, p < 0.05). For elders aged 65-74 years, a western dietary pattern was positively associated with increased, by eightfold, risk of cognitive decline over 8 years (adjusted odds ratio = 9.35, 95% confidence interval = 2.38-36.67, p < 0.05), whereas traditional and healthy dietary patterns were not. For elders aged ≥ 75 years, none of western, traditional, or healthy dietary patterns were associated with cognitive decline over 4 and 8 years.

Dietary patterns correlate with cognitive function in Taiwanese aged 65 years and older and can predict the occurrence of subsequent cognitive decline. Western dietary pattern increases the risk of cognitive decline over 8 years. This study suggests that a diet that involves frequent consumption of meat/poultry and eggs and infrequent consumption of fish, beans/legumes, and vegetables and fruits may adversely affect cognitive function in older Taiwanese.