Dietary intake adequacy and cognitive function in free-living active elderly: A cross-sectional and short-term prospective study

• Published in: Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Scotland), 2008-02, Vol.27 (1), p.77-86
• Main Authors: Velho, Sónia, Marques-Vidal, Pedro, Baptista, Fátima, Camilo, Maria Ermelinda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aging - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Calcium; Calcium, Dietary - administration & dosage; Cognition - physiology; Cognitive function; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet - standards; Diet Records; Diet Surveys; Elderly; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Geriatric Assessment; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Nutrition Assessment; Nutritional Status - physiology; Prospective Studies; Prospective study; Psychometrics; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vitamins
• ISSN: 0261-5614; 1532-1983
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2007.10.011

Summary Background & aims Adequate dietary intake might prevent cognitive decline among ageing subjects; hence, the relationships between dietary intake and cognitive function in a sample of non-institutionalized active elderly were assessed. Methods Total 187 subjects aged over 65. Dietary intake was assessed using a three-day record and cognitive function using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). After 8.5±3.5 months of follow-up, cognitive function was re-assessed in 110 subjects. Results A considerable portion of the subjects presented a low intake of several key nutrients. At baseline, no differences were found between subjects with normal or low MMSE score regarding all dietary parameters. At follow-up, 63 subjects (57%) showed a mild improvement of their MMSE score; their consumption of calcium and of n-3 fatty acids was higher ( p