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Nutritional status and cognitive functioning in a normally aging sample: a 6-y reassessment
A La Rue1, K M Koehler, S J Wayne
1Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131-5666, USA.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|January 1, 1997
Summary
This study found that better nutrition, including vitamins and protein, is linked to improved cognitive function in older adults. Even in well-nourished individuals, specific nutrient intake and supplements may support memory and abstract thinking.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nutritional Science
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Nutritional status is a critical factor influencing cognitive health, particularly in aging populations.
- Understanding the specific nutrient-cognition links can inform interventions to maintain cognitive function in the elderly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between nutritional status and cognitive performance in well-nourished, cognitively intact elderly individuals.
- To explore the relationship between past and concurrent nutritional intake and cognitive test results.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 137 community-dwelling elderly residents (aged 66-90 years).
- Assessment of cognitive performance using various tests.
- Evaluation of nutritional status through biochemical markers and dietary intake records from 1980 and 1986.
- Analysis of correlations between nutritional status and cognitive measures.
Main Results:
- Concurrent intake and status of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and folate were positively associated with abstraction performance.
- Higher plasma ascorbate levels correlated with better visuospatial performance.
- Dietary protein and serum albumin/transferrin showed significant correlations with memory, visuospatial, and abstraction scores.
- Past intake of vitamins E, A, B-6, and B-12 was linked to improved visuospatial recall and abstraction.
- Supplement use was associated with better performance on specific cognitive tests.
Conclusions:
- Despite being well-nourished, elderly individuals showed associations between specific nutrient intakes and cognitive performance.
- These findings suggest that optimizing nutrition, including supplementation, may play a role in supporting cognitive function during aging.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the complex relationship between nutrition and cognition in older adults.