Energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index and cognitive function in Chinese older adults: a population-based cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Diet can regulate systemic inflammation, which may play an important role in the development and progression of cognitive impairment and dementia. To explore the relationship between the dietary inflammatory potential and cognitive ability. A total of 2307 adults aged 60 years or older were recruited from the Fujian Provincial Hospital (Fujian, China). Dietary inflammatory properties were analyzed using the energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index (E-DII). The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were used to assess cognitive function. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were fit to assess the associations between variables. The MCI subjects with the highest E-DII scores had a higher risk of AD compared to subjects with the lowest E-DII scores (OR = 1.98, 95%CI = 1.49–2.64, P for trend < 0.001). Subjects with the highest E-DII levels were at increased risk of cognitive impairment compared to those with the lowest E-DII levels (OR = 1.56, 95%CI = 1.25–1.93, P for trend < 0.001). The link between E-DII and cognitive impairment was significant in a nonlinear dose response analysis (P for nonlinear = 0.001). Higher E-DII scores were associated with an increased risk of developing AD or cognitive impairment. These findings may contribute to the effective prevention of cognitive impairment by constructing a multidisciplinary synergistic prevention strategy and controlling dietary inflammation levels.

KEYWORDS:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• mild cognitive impairment
• E-DII
• diet
• nutrition
• inflammation
• cognitive function
• older adults

Acknowledgments

We thank all participants for their cooperation and engagement in this study.

Data availability statement

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to confidentiality issues.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province, China [grant no 2021J01359]; China Urological Oncology Research Fund (#027); and Joint Funds for the innovation of science and Technology, Fujian Province, China [grant no 2020Y9021]. The funding sources had no role in the design and execution of the study, the collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data, the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript, or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Notes on contributors

Lili Chen

Lili Chen is the Deputy Director of Nursing Department, Fujian Provincial Hospital. Her primary research interests are in geriatric nursing and nursing management.

Jinxiu Liu

Jinxiu Liu is a master's student at the School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University.

Xiuli Li

Xiuli Li is a master's student at the School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University.

Zhaoyi Hou

Zhaoyi Hou is a master's student at the School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University.

Yongbao Wei

Yongbao Wei is an associate chief physician of the Department of Urology at Fujian Provincial Hospital. His research interests are in the comprehensive treatment of urological diseases such as kidney cancer and bladder cancer.

Mingfeng Chen

Mingfeng Chen is an associate chief physician in the Department of Neurology at Fujian Provincial Hospital. Her research interest focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, cerebrovascular disease, and Parkinson's disease.

Bixia Wang

Bixia Wang is a master's student at the School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University.

Huizhen Cao

Huizhen Cao is a supervising nurse at Fujian Provincial Hospital.

Rongyan Qiu

Rongyan Qiu is a supervising nurse at Fujian Provincial Governmental Hospital.

Yuping Zhang

Yuping Zhang is a master's student at the School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University.

Xinli Ji

Xinli Ji is a master's student at the School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University.

Ping Zhang

Ping Zhang is a master's student at the School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University.

Mianxiang Xue

Mianxiang Xue is a master's student at the School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University.

Linlin Qiu

Linlin Qiu is a master's student at the School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University.

Linlin Wang

Linlin Wang is a master's student at the School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University.

Hong Li

Hong Li is the Vice President of Fujian Medical University. The research fields mainly involve geriatric nursing, critical care nursing, chronic disease health management, and nursing management.