Vegetarian Dietary Patterns and Cognitive Function among Older Adults: The Adventist Health Study-2

Abstract

We explored effects on cognitive function of following plant-based vegetarian compared with non-vegetarian dietary patterns in otherwise healthy older community-dwelling members of the Adventist Health Study-2 cohort (n = 132). Cognition was assessed using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery; a principal components analysis derived processing speed, executive function, and memory/language factors. Mild memory impairment (MMI) (n = 26, 19.7%) was identified by memory tests. Vegetarians consumed (a) meats, fish, and dairy <1 time/month, (b) dairy ≥1 time/month and meats, and fish <1 time/month, or (c) fish ≥1 time/month, no limits on dairy, and meats <1 time/month. Dietary patterns were determined at baseline, for each decade, and at cognitive assessment; a diet stability score was calculated. Factor scores were not different between vegetarians and non-vegetarians, nor was dietary pattern associated with a lower odds of MMI. A more stable diet over the life course was associated with better memory/language [β = 0.021 SE(β) = 0.008; p = 0.01]. This exploratory study did not support differences in processing speed, executive function, or memory/language abilities between vegetarians and non-vegetarians but did suggest that a more stable dietary pattern which was characteristic of vegetarians was associated with better memory/language abilities.

Keywords:

• Vegetarian diets
• memory
• memory impairment
• stable diet
• cognitive function
• Alzheimer’s disease

Author contributions

Authors contributed to this work as follows: formulating the research question(s): NG & GJL; designing the study: NMG, GJL, GF, CW; carrying it out: NMG, GJL, GF, CW, JGC, CI, TL, ZC, JP; analyzing the data: NMG, JGC, GJL, ZC; writing the article: NMG, GJL, GF, CW, JGC, CI, TL, ZC, JP, KJS

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author (NG) upon reasonable request. The data are not publicly available due to their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the GRASP Award [2140309] from Loma Linda University, Office of Research Affairs.