[Association between dietary choline intake trajectories and cognitive function in middle-aged and older population]

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Gerontology
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Context:

• Dietary choline intake patterns and their longitudinal association with cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults are not well-established.
• The China Health and Nutrition Survey provides a valuable dataset for examining long-term dietary habits and health outcomes in this demographic.

Purpose:

• To identify distinct trajectories of dietary choline intake in Chinese adults aged 55-79 years.
• To analyze the longitudinal association between these choline intake trajectories and cognitive function over time.

Summary:

• Four choline intake trajectories were identified: low-stable (61.0%), medium-stable (23.9%), medium-declined (11.2%), and high-stable (3.9%).
• Compared to the low-intake group, individuals in medium-stable, medium-declined, and high-stable groups exhibited higher global cognitive scores.
• Lower choline intake was associated with an increased likelihood of cognitive decline, particularly in specific subgroups.

Impact:

• Findings highlight generally low dietary choline intake in the studied Chinese population.
• Long-term insufficient choline intake negatively affects cognitive function and elevates cognitive decline risk in older adults.
• Recommendations include increasing consumption of choline-enriched foods to support cognitive health in aging populations.