NHANES 2011–2014 Reveals Cognition of US Older Adults may Benefit from Better Adaptation to the Mediterranean Diet

Abstract

<jats:p>Although the Mediterranean diet (MedD) has gained interest for potential Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prevention, it is unknown how well US older adults follow a MedD. We used two National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles (2011–2014) to conduct our primary aim of reporting population estimates of MedD adherence among older adults (60+ years) in the US (n = 3068). The mean MedD adherence score for US older adults was 5.3 ± 2.1 (maximum possible = 18), indicating that older adults in the US do not adhere to a MedD. There were various differences in MedD scores across demographic characteristics. We also assessed the cross-sectional relationship between MedD adherence and cognitive performance using survey-weighted ordinary least squares regression and binary logistic regression models adjusted for 11 covariates. Compared to the lowest MedD adherence tertile, the highest tertile had a lower odds ratio of low cognitive performance on three of five cognitive measures (p &lt; 0.05 for each). Sensitivity analyses within participants without subjective memory complaints over the past year revealed similar results on the same three cognitive measures. We conclude that MedD interventions are a departure from usual dietary intake of older adults in the US and are a reasonable approach for AD prevention trials.</jats:p>

Nutritional status mediates the relationship between sarcopenia and cognitive impairment: findings from the WCHAT study

“…Studies have indicated that various dietary patterns, including the Mediterranean diet (MedDi), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Mediterranean-DASH diet Intervention for Neurological Delay (MIND), ketogenic diet, and caloric restriction may prevent or delay cognitive deterioration [ 28 ]. Several studies have shown that the higher the adherence to MedDi, the lower the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia [ 29 , 30 ]. Although the mechanisms underlying the proposed benefits of MedDi regarding preventing cognitive deterioration are not fully understood, several pathways may explain this neuroprotective effect, including reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation, interference with amyloid aggregation, improvement of cardiovascular health, modification of the gut microbiota, and stimulation of epigenetic modification [ 28 , 31 , 32 ].…”

Establishment of sex difference in circulating uric acid is associated with higher testosterone and lower sex hormone-binding globulin in adolescent boys

“…Descriptive statistics were presented as median and interquartile range (non-normally distributed continuous data), or mean and SD (approximately normally distributed continuous data), or percentages (categorical data). The association analyses were conducted using weighted least squares regression 43 with or without adjusting for covariates. Sub-analyses were conducted in the following sub-cohorts: participants aged 12–19 years or 20–80 years or perimenopausal women aged 47–56 years.…”

Establishment of sex difference in circulating uric acid is associated with higher testosterone and lower sex hormone-binding globulin in adolescent boys

“…Descriptive statistics were presented as median and interquartile range (non-normally distributed continuous data), or mean and SD (approximately normally distributed continuous data), or percentages (categorical data). The association analyses were conducted using weighted least squares regression 37 writing -review and editing.…”