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Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, 1645 W.
Jackson, Ste. 675, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Martha_C_Morris@rush.edu
OBJECTIVE: To examine
the association between rates of cognitive
change and dietary consumption of fruits
and vegetables among older persons.
METHODS:
The authors conducted a prospective cohort
study of 3,718 participants, aged 65 years
and older of the Chicago Health and Aging
Project. Participants completed a food frequency
questionnaire and were administered at least
two of three cognitive assessments at baseline,
3-year, and 6-year follow-ups. Cognitive
function was measured using the average z-score
of four tests: the East Boston Tests of immediate
memory and delayed recall, the Mini-Mental
State Examination, and the Symbol Digit Modalities
Test.
RESULTS: The mean cognitive score
at baseline for the analyzed cohort was 0.18
(range: -3.5 to 1.6), and the overall mean
change in score per year was a decline of
0.04 standardized units. In mixed effects
models adjusted for age, sex, race, and education,
compared with the rate of cognitive decline
among persons in the lowest quintile of vegetable
intake (median of 0.9 servings/day), the
rate for persons in the fourth quintile (median,
2.8 servings/day) was slower by 0.019 standardized
units per year (p = 0.01), a 40% decrease,
and by 0.018 standardized units per year
(p = 0.02) for the fifth quintile (median,
4.1 servings/day), or a 38% decrease in rates.
The
association remained significant (p for linear
trend = 0.02) with further control of cardiovascular-related
conditions and risk factors. Fruit consumption
was not associated with cognitive change.
CONCLUSION:
High vegetable but not fruit consumption
may be associated with slower rate of cognitive
decline with older age.
PMID: 17060562 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] |
