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Nutrition and cognitive deficit in the elderly: a population study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 55, pages 1053–1058 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between a healthy diet indicator and the prevalence of cognitive impairment in the elderly.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Population based.

Subjects: A total of 1651 subjects (560 men and 1091 women) including everybody aged 70 y or more, and a random sample of people (about 40%) aged 65–69 y resident in four rural towns in the province of Pavia, Italy in 1992–1993.

Interventions: The healthy diet indicator based on the WHO guidelines for the prevention of chronic diseases was calculated as reported by Huijbregts et al (1998; Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 52, 826–831). Food intake was estimated by means of a 180-item food-frequency questionnaire and nutrient intake was calculated using the food composition database compiled for epidemiologic studies in Italy. The cognitive function was categorized into four levels—normal cognition, mild, moderate and severe cognitive deficit—according to the neuropsychological test score. The relationship beween the dietary and the ordinal cognitive function variables was studied using the proportional-odds model.

Results: After adjustment for age, sex, education, total energy intake, cigarrette smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity, a better healthy diet score was associated with a lower prevalence of cognitive deficit. The cumulative odds ratio was 0.85 (95% CI 0.77–0.93).

Conclusions: Our results suggest an association beween a globally satisfactory diet and better cognitive performance in the elderly. However, the specific aspects of a ‘healthy diet’ for the elderly should be clarified.

Sponsorship: National Research Council (Italy), ‘Invecchiamento’ Project no. 95.01048.PF40.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 1053–1058

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Author notes

  1. ML Corrêa Leite: Guarantor: ML Corrêa Leite.

  2. ML Corrêa Leite, A Nicolosi, S Cristina, WA Hauser and G Nappi: Contributors: AN designed the protocol and supervised the execution of the study. SC collaborated in the protocol design and was the project director. WAH designed the protocol and directed the training of the field neurologists. GN collaborated in the protocol design and obtained funding. MLCL did the statistical analysis and wrote the paper.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Milan, Italy

    ML Corrêa Leite & A Nicolosi

  2. Columbia University, School of Public Health, GH Sergievsky Center, New York, USA

    A Nicolosi & WA Hauser

  3. Neurological Institute ‘C Mondino’, Pavia, Italy

    S Cristina & G Nappi

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  1. ML Corrêa Leite
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  2. A Nicolosi
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  3. S Cristina
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  4. WA Hauser
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  5. G Nappi
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Corrêa Leite, M., Nicolosi, A., Cristina, S. et al. Nutrition and cognitive deficit in the elderly: a population study. Eur J Clin Nutr 55, 1053–1058 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601270

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