Food Insecurity across the Life-Course and Cognitive Function among Older Mexican Adults

Abstract

Background: Food insecurity remains a global public health problem. Experiencing food insecurity is related to poorer cognitive function among older adults. However, few studies have examined how food insecurity, experienced over the life-course, relates to cognitive function among older adults in Mexico. Methods: Data came from the 2015 Mexican Health and Aging Study (n = 11,507 adults aged 50 and over). Early- and late-life food insecurity were ascertained by self-report. We evaluated how both measures of food insecurity related to the performance of multiple cognitive tasks (Verbal Learning, Verbal Recall, Visual Scanning, and Verbal Fluency), while controlling for key health and sociodemographic confounders using linear regression. Results: In descriptive analyses, respondents who experienced food insecurity in either early or late life performed significantly worse on all cognitive tasks when compared to the food secure. In models adjusted for health and sociodemographic confounders, early-life food insecurity predicted worse Verbal Learning performance and late-life food insecurity was associated with poorer Visual Scanning performance. Conclusions: Food insecurity was related to poorer cognitive function in a nationally representative sample of older adults in Mexico. However, results suggested that the significance of effects depended on cognitive task and when in the life-course food insecurity was experienced.

Investigating the linkages between food insecurity, psychological distress, and poor sleep outcomes among U.S. college students

“…In the lifecourse epidemiology literature, early life FI (or more specifically, undernutrition) is considered one of the many potential adverse conditions that contribute to health outcomes later in life (Ben‐Shlomo & Kuh, 2002; Kuh et al, 2003). Saenz et al (2022) found that FI in childhood is related to poorer cognitive function in adulthood. While stress and its effects on brain development and structure have been implicated as the mechanism tying FI to cognitive health outcomes, these factors may also contribute to poorer sleep which, in turn, may exacerbate mental and physical health concerns.…”

Late-life food insecurity and cognition: exploring timing, duration, and mechanisms among older Mexican adults

“…Further information on the MHAS cognitive measures is available in other work [ 63 , 64 ]. Although other cognitive tasks have been assessed in the MHAS, we focus on these four as these measure cognitive domains that have been previously assessed in relation to food insecurity such as memory and executive function [ 28 , 29 , 31 ]. These tasks also do not require mathematical or literacy abilities, which is essential in evaluations of cognition in settings with lower formal education levels.…”

“…Recent work has suggested that food insecurity may also negatively impact the brain and cognitive function [ 21 , 22 ]. Studies have reported effects of food insecurity on outcomes spanning lower cognitive function [ 23 – 29 ], faster cognitive decline [ 30 – 32 ], mild cognitive impairment [ 33 – 37 ], and dementia [ 38 , 39 ].…”

“…Last, there has been limited research on food insecurity and cognition in Mexico or Latin America [ 7 , 29 ]. The Latin American region of the world has higher levels of food insecurity when compared to North America, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia [ 59 ].…”

“…The proportion of households having food insecurity increased during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 60 ]. Previous evidence among older Mexican adults has shown that food insecurity in early life (before age 10) was associated with lower Verbal Learning scores in later life, and food insecurity in older ages was also associated with lower Visual Scanning scores [ 29 ]. Further, food availability was a significant mediator in the relationship between income and cognition [ 7 ].…”