Neurology: The relationship between middle-aged eating habits and the incidence of dementia in 20 years

Cases of dementia are expected to triple over the next 30 years, highlighting the importance of
identifying modifiable risk factors for dementia.
A study published today in Neurology aims to investigate whether adherence to routine dietary recommendations or a modified Mediterranean diet is associated with the subsequent development of dementia of all causes such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), or future accumulation of AD-amyloid (A&# 946;) pathology
.

The baseline examination of the Swedish Population-Based Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (MDCS) was conducted between 1991 and 1996 and followed dementia events until 2014
.
Non-demented people born in 1923-1950 and living in Malmö were invited to participate
.
30,446 people were recruited (41% of all eligible persons).

28,025 people had dietary data and were included in this study
.
Eating habits were assessed
through a 7-day eating diary, a detailed food frequency questionnaire, and a 1-hour interview.

The primary outcome was occasional all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or vascular dementia as determined by the memory clinic doctor
.
The secondary outcome was A&946;- accumulation measured using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) A&442 (n=738).

The COX proportional hazard model was used to examine the association between diet and risk of developing dementia (adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, smoking, physical activity and alcohol).

In this 20-year follow-up study, either following routine dietary recommendations or a modified Mediterranean diet was significantly associated with
a reduced risk of subsequent development of all-cause dementia, AD dementia, VaD, or AD pathology.

Sources:

Glans I, Sonestedt E, Nägga K, et al.
Association Between Dietary Habits in Midlife With Dementia Incidence Over a 20-Year Period [published online ahead of print, 2022 Oct 12].
Neurology.
2022; 10.
1212/WNL.
0000000000201336.
doi:10.
1212/WNL.
0000000000201336