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'Boden Food Plate': Novel Interactive Web-based Method for the Assessment of Dietary Intake
Published on: September 18, 2018
Exploratory dietary patterns and cognitive function in the "Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra" (SUN) Prospective
M I Muñoz-García1,2, M A Martínez-González1,3,4, C Razquin1,3
1Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Navarra-IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|May 14, 2021
Summary
A Mediterranean diet pattern may protect cognitive function, reducing dementia risk. Conversely, a Western diet pattern is linked to faster cognitive decline, potentially increasing dementia incidence.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Nutritional Science
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Dementia is a growing global health concern, projected to affect 135 million individuals by 2050.
- Dietary interventions are promising for primary dementia prevention, but specific recommendations are lacking.
- Understanding the impact of dietary patterns on cognitive health is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between empirically derived dietary patterns and cognitive status changes over six years.
- To analyze how different dietary patterns influence cognitive decline in a Spanish cohort.
- To provide evidence for dietary recommendations aimed at dementia prevention.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a validated 136-item food-frequency questionnaire from 803 participants in the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra cohort.
- Employed principal component analysis to identify distinct, exploratory dietary patterns.
- Applied adjusted multiple linear regression models to assess the relationship between dietary patterns and changes in cognitive scores (STICS-m).
Main Results:
- Two primary dietary patterns were identified: a Western Dietary Pattern (WDP) high in sugar, fat, processed foods, and red meat, and a Mediterranean Dietary Pattern (MDP) rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, fish, and olive oil.
- Higher adherence to the WDP was significantly associated with a greater decline in cognitive scores over six years (difference of -0.80 points).
- Conversely, higher adherence to the MDP was linked to a significant improvement in cognitive scores over the same period (difference of +0.71 points).
Conclusions:
- A healthy, prudent Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with preserved cognitive function, potentially reducing dementia incidence.
- Western-type diets are linked to accelerated cognitive performance decline and may increase dementia risk.
- These findings support the promotion of Mediterranean dietary patterns for maintaining cognitive health and preventing dementia.
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