Western diet associated with increased post-stroke depressive symptoms.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Nutritional Psychiatry

Background:

• Depression is a frequent complication following a stroke in older adults.
• Previous research indicates a link between healthy diets and reduced depressive symptoms in the general older population.
• The specific impact of diet on depressive symptoms in stroke survivors remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms in a cohort of older adults who have experienced a stroke.
• To determine if dietary habits influence the trajectory of depressive symptoms after stroke.

Main Methods:

• An observational prospective cohort study involving 86 participants from the Memory and Aging Project with a history of stroke.
• Dietary intake was assessed at baseline using a validated food-frequency questionnaire, with scores derived from 144 food items.
• Depressive symptoms were evaluated annually using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale.
• A generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was employed to analyze the relationship between diet scores and depressive symptoms over time.

Main Results:

• A Western dietary pattern was significantly associated with an increase in depressive symptoms over time (tertile 3 vs. tertile 1: β = 0.22, P = 0.02).
• A significant trend (P = 0.022) indicated that higher adherence to a Western diet correlated with greater depressive symptoms.
• An interaction with sex suggested a more pronounced effect of Western diet on depressive symptoms in female participants.

Conclusions:

• Adherence to a Western diet is associated with a higher prevalence and progression of depressive symptoms in older stroke survivors.
• Dietary modification may play a crucial role in managing and preventing post-stroke depression.
• Nutrition is vital for both cerebrovascular health and the mental well-being of individuals post-stroke.