Cognitive function and elderly macronutrient intakes from rural diets in Qingdao, China

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nutritional Science
• Cognitive Health

Background:

• Macronutrient energy intake is crucial for healthy aging.
• Cognitive function decline is a concern in aging populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between dietary macronutrients and cognitive function in rural elderly individuals in Qingdao, China.
• To explore dose-response relationships between macronutrient ratios and cognitive performance.

Main Methods:

• 1,504 participants aged over 65 from Qingdao, China.
• Dietary intake assessed via Food Frequency Questionnaire; cognitive function by Mini-Mental State Examination.
• Logistic regression and restricted cubic splines used to analyze associations and dose-response relationships.

Main Results:

• Positive associations found between protein and moderate carbohydrate intake and cognitive ability.
• Negative association identified between fat intake and cognitive performance.
• An L-shaped relationship between protein-to-fat ratio and cognitive function was observed, with higher ratios linked to better outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Increasing dietary protein and reducing fat intake, alongside adequate carbohydrates, may enhance cognitive function in rural elders.
• Optimizing the protein-to-fat ratio is particularly important for cognitive health in this population.