Mediterranean diet related to 3-year incidence of cognitive decline: results from a cohort study in Chinese rural elders

ABSTRACT

Objective

This study aims to examine the effect of the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) on cognitive decline among the Chinese elderly with a 3-year follow-up.

Methods

This study is divided into two waves: wave-1 January 2019 to June 2019 (n = 2313); wave-2 January 2022 to March 2022 (n = 1648). MeDi scores were calculated from the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), with the scoring of low compliance (0–6 points) and high compliance (7–14 points). The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess cognitive function. An MMSE score dropping ≥ 2 points from baseline was defined as cognitive decline. The relationships between MeDi score and cognitive decline were analyzed by linear regression models or Binary logistic regression.

Results

During the 3-year follow-up, 23.8% of patients exhibited cognitive decline. The study revealed a significant difference in MMSE score changes between low and high MeDi adherence groups (p < 0.001). MeDi score was negatively correlated with cognitive deterioration (β = −0.020, p = 0.026). MeDi score was only negatively associated with cognitive decline in the female subgroup aged ≥65 years (β = −0.034, p = 0.033). The food beans (OR = 0.65, 95%CI:0.51, 0.84), fish (OR = 0.72, 95%CI:0.54, 0.97), and cooked vegetables (OR = 0.68, 95%CI:0.53, 0.84) were protective factors for cognitive decline.

Conclusions

This study suggests that greater adherence to the MeDi is linked to a reduced risk of cognitive decline in elderly people. However, this is found only in women who are 65 years old or older. It also found long-term adherence to beans, fish, and vegetables are more effective in improving cognitive function.

KEYWORDS:

• Cognitive decline
• MMSE‌
• Mediterranean diet
• MEDAS‌
• risk factor
• follow-up
• rural elders
• diet

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the patients who participated in this study, and we also thank all the participants for their strive to the study.

Disclosure statement

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

Data availability statement

All data can be offered to researchers upon request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant [number: 72264002], the China Medical Education Association Project under Grant [number: 2022KTZ010], and the research Fund project of Gansu Provincial Hospital under Grant [numbers: 22GSSYYD-70].

Notes on contributors

Yuping Feng

Yuping Feng is a MD student at School of Nursing, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China.

Jiancheng Wang

Jiancheng Wang is a professor at Department of General Practice Medicine, Hospital of Gansu Health Vocational College, Lanzhou, China.

Rong Zhang

Rong Zhang is a MD student at School of Nursing, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China.

Yunhua Wang

Yunhua Wang is a PH.D student at School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.

Jing Wang

Jing Wang is a MD student at School of Nursing, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China.

Hongyan Meng

Hongyan Meng is a MD student at School of Nursing, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, China.

Hu Cheng

Hu Cheng is a MD student at School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.

Juxia Zhang

Juxia Zhang is a professor at Clinical Educational Department, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, China.