Diet Inflammatory Index and Dementia Incidence: A Population-Based Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nutritional Science
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Aging is associated with increased systemic inflammation, a proinflammatory state linked to cognitive decline and dementia.
• Dietary patterns can influence systemic inflammation, offering a potential avenue for mitigating dementia risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the inflammatory potential of diet, using the Diet Inflammatory Index (DII), and the risk of dementia in community-dwelling older adults.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study of 1,059 older adults from the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD) was conducted.
• Dietary inflammatory potential was assessed using the DII, a biomarker-validated index based on 45 food parameters.
• Dementia incidence was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models based on baseline DII scores over a mean follow-up of 3.05 years.

Main Results:

• An increased DII score was significantly associated with a higher risk of dementia incidence (HR 1.21 per unit increase, p=0.023).
• Individuals in the highest DII tertile (most proinflammatory diet) had a threefold increased likelihood of developing dementia compared to those in the lowest tertile (p=0.014).
• A significant trend indicated a dose-response relationship between DII score and dementia risk (p=0.014).

Conclusions:

• Higher adherence to a proinflammatory diet, as measured by the DII, is associated with an elevated risk of developing dementia in older adults.
• These findings support the potential for targeted dietary interventions as a primary prevention strategy for dementia.