Association between dietary patterns and CAIDE-predicted dementia risk: A 20-year cohort of the Korean Genome and...

This study examined associations between dietary habits and the risk of developing Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE)-predicted late-life dementia risk in Korean adults. A total of 5,042 participants aged 40-69 years were included. We assessed associations between dietary patterns-the Mediterranean diet, Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet, Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), and Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Index (EDII)-and CAIDE-predicted high risk of dementia. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models, and cumulative incidence was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Longitudinal trajectories of CAIDE scores over a 10-year period were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. During follow-up of 15.83 years, 30.9% progressed to CAIDE-predicted high risk of dementia. The highest tertile of the Mediterranean diet, MIND diet, and KHEI were associated with lower cumulative incidence (P = .008, P < .001, and P < .001) and reduced risk of progression to CAIDE-predicted high risk of dementia (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.67-0.90, HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.69-0.93, and HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.70-0.91, respectively) along with lower CAIDE score (P < .001, P < .001, P = .002). Conversely, the highest EDII tertile showed the highest cumulative incidence (P < .001), an increased risk of progression to CAIDE-predicted high risk of dementia (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.32), and elevated CAIDE scores (P < .001). Greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet, MIND diet, and KHEI, and lower consumption of pro-inflammatory diets were associated with a lower risk of high CAIDE-predicted late-life dementia and slower accumulation of risk factors.