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. 2022 Aug;12(8):e2670.
doi: 10.1002/brb3.2670. Epub 2022 Jul 14.

Plant-based dietary patterns and cognitive function: A prospective cohort analysis of elderly individuals in China (2008-2018)

Anna Zhu  1 , Changzheng Yuan  2   3 , Jules Pretty  4 , John S Ji  5
Affiliations

Plant-based dietary patterns and cognitive function: A prospective cohort analysis of elderly individuals in China (2008-2018)

Anna Zhu et al. Brain Behav. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Introduction: Plant-based diets confer health benefits, especially on the prevention of noncommunicable diseases. The relationship between plant-based dietary patterns on cognitive function as a neurological outcome needs more evidence. We aimed to assess the associations between plant-based dietary patterns and cognitive function among Chinese older adults.

Methods: We used four waves (2008-2018) of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. We included 6136 participants aged 65 years and older with normal cognition at baseline. We constructed an overall plant-based diet index (PDI), healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI), and unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI) from questionnaires. We used the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to assess cognitive function. We used the multivariable-adjusted generalized estimating equation to explore the corresponding associations.

Results: The multivariable-adjusted models showed inverse associations between plant-based dietary patterns and cognitive function. The highest quartiles of PDI and hPDI were associated with a 55% (odds ratio [OR] = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.52) decrease and a 39% (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.54, 0.70) decrease in the odds of cognitive impairment (MMSE < 24), compared with the lowest quartile. In contrast, the highest quartile of uPDI was associated with an increased risk (OR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.79, 2.31) of cognitive impairment. We did not observe pronounced differences by selected socioeconomic status, physical activity, residential greenness, and APOE ε4 status.

Conclusions: Our findings suggested that adherence to healthy plant-based dietary patterns was associated with lower risks of cognitive impairment among older adults, and unhealthy plant-based dietary patterns were related to higher risks of cognitive impairment.

Keywords: cognitive function; healthy longevity; plant-based dietary patterns.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Curves for plant‐based diets and development of cognitive impairment among the participants with follow‐up surveys and with normal cognitive function at baseline
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Stratified analysis for the odds ratios of highest quartile of plant‐based dietary indices on cognitive impairment among the participants with follow‐up surveys and with normal cognitive function at baseline
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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