Poor Diet, Long Sleep, and Lack of Physical Activity Are Associated with Inflammation among Non-Demented Community-Dwelling Elderly

Abstract

Inflammation in elderly is associated with physical and cognitive morbidity and mortality. We aimed to explore the association of modifiable lifestyle parameters with inflammation among non-demented, community-dwelling elderly. A sub-sample of 117 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 63) and cognitively non-impaired controls (CNI, n = 54) were recruited from a large, population-based cohort in Crete, Greece, of 3140 elders (> 60 years old). All participants underwent assessment of medical history/physical examination, extensive neuropsychiatric/neuropsychological evaluation, diet, three-day 24-h actigraphy, subjective sleep, physical activity, and measurement of IL-6 and TNFα plasma levels. Associations between inflammatory markers and diet, objective sleep duration, subjective sleep quality, and lack of physical activity were assessed using multivariate models. Regression analyses in the total group revealed significant associations between TNF-α and low vegetable consumption (p = 0.003), and marginally with objective long nighttime sleep duration (p = 0.04). In addition, IL-6 was associated with low vegetable consumption (p = 0.001) and lack of physical activity (p = 0.001). Poor diet and lack of physical activity appear to be modifiable risk factors of inflammation, whereas long sleep appears to be a marker of increased inflammatory response in elderly. Our findings may have clinical implications given the association of inflammatory response with morbidity, including cognitive decline, and mortality in elderly.

Consumption of Vegetables Is Associated with Systemic Inflammation in Older Adults

“…Few studies have reported on associations between inflammatory markers and specific food groups [12,32,33], with a particular scarcity of data in the elderly population. Previously, reports have shown inverse relationships between biomarkers of inflammation in older adults and intakes of FV [17][18][19] and vegetables alone [34]. Our data revealed a significant impact of vegetables but not fruits on the levels of the inflammatory biomarker Il-6, which is in line with data showing inverse relationships between vegetable intake and IL-6 levels in middle-aged [33] and older adults [34].…”

“…Previously, reports have shown inverse relationships between biomarkers of inflammation in older adults and intakes of FV [17][18][19] and vegetables alone [34]. Our data revealed a significant impact of vegetables but not fruits on the levels of the inflammatory biomarker Il-6, which is in line with data showing inverse relationships between vegetable intake and IL-6 levels in middle-aged [33] and older adults [34]. Our finding is further strengthened by the fact that adiposity level was accounted for in the present analysis.…”

The Association of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet with Depression in Older Adults Longitudinally Taking into Account Cognitive Status: Results from the HELIAD Study

“…Additionally, other nutrients included in fruits act as co-factors for neurotransmitters, significant in mood regulation [ 47 ]. It has been also suggested that in older adults inflammation markers are connected with low fruit consumption [ 48 ]; thus, the association of fruits with depression may be explained through neuroinflammation.…”

Long Objective Sleep Duration is a Marker of Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: Findings from the Cretan Aging Cohort

“…The sleep variables estimated were night sleep efficiency (SE), night wake after sleep onset time (WASO), night and 24-h total sleep time (TST) and finally, night and 24-h time spent in bed (TiB). Following our previous publication [34],…”