Protein-Balanced Dietary Habits Benefit Cognitive Function in Japanese Older Adults

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Nutritional Neuroscience
• Dietary pattern analysis and cognitive function assessment

Background:

• Dietary habits significantly influence cognitive function and cognitive decline.
• Existing dietary interventions like Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet need cultural adaptation.
• Culturally specific dietary patterns are crucial for effective cognitive health interventions in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To classify dietary patterns in elderly Japanese individuals using cluster analysis.
• To investigate the relationship between identified dietary patterns and cognitive function.
• To develop a predictive model for cognitive decline based on dietary patterns in Japanese older adults.

Main Methods:

• K-means cluster analysis was used to identify dietary patterns from food intake data.
• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire were employed.
• Discriminant analysis was used to create a classification model for dietary patterns in a separate cohort.

Main Results:

• Two distinct dietary patterns were identified: high-carbohydrate (HC) and protein-balanced (PB).
• The PB group exhibited significantly higher cognitive function compared to the HC group.
• The HC dietary pattern was associated with significantly impaired cognitive function in both general and cognitively impaired elderly cohorts.

Conclusions:

• A dietary pattern characterized by low carbohydrate and high protein intake is associated with preserved cognitive function in elderly Japanese individuals.
• Dietary pattern classification can serve as a predictive tool for cognitive reserve in community-dwelling older adults.
• Findings support the development of culturally tailored dietary interventions to support cognitive health in aging populations.