Heidi J. Wengreen, Chailyn Nelson, Ronald Munger, Christopher Corcoran
Cache County Study Investigators, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA.
Contact e-mail: heidi.wengreen@usu.edu
Disclosure Block: H.J. Wengreen, None; C. Nelson, None; R. Munger, None; C. Corcoran, None.

Background: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) dietary pattern is recommended in the current dietary guidelines for Americans.

Methods: We prospectively examined associations between DASH diet adherence scores and risk of cognitive decline and dementia among aging men and women of the Cache County Study on Memory, Health and Aging. In 1995, 3831 residents 65 years of age or older completed a baseline survey that included a food frequency questionnaire and cognitive assessment. Cognitive function was assessed using the Modified Mini-Mental State examination (3MS) during four assessments spanning 11 years. A DASH diet adherence score (DASH score) based on nine food-group/nutrient components (fruit, vegetables, nut/legumes, whole grains, low-fat dairy, sodium, sweets, non-fish meat, and fish) was calculated. Multivariable mixed effects models were used to examine change in average 3MS score over time across creasing quintiles of the DASH score.
in Results: Higher DASH scores were associated with higher 3MS scores at baseline and over time. Those in the highest quintile scored 1.42 (0.32) points higher at baseline and 1.81 (0.28) points higher after 11 years than did those in the lowest quintile of the DASH score (p-values <0.001). Four of the nine food-group/nutrient components used to create the DASH score were independently associated with 3MS scores (vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, nut/legumes; p-values = 0.037, 0.013, 0.005, <0.001). A 4-component diet adherence score was computed and associations were examined across increasing quintile of the 4-component score. Those in the highest quintile scored 1.72 (0.38) points higher at baseline and 3.73 (0.26) points higher after 11 years than did those in the lowest quintile of the 4-component score (p-values < 0.001). Those in the highest quintile of the 4-component score had lower risk for dementia than did those in the lowest quintile, but this finding was only significant for those without an APOE e4 allele (hazard ratio, 0.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.19, 0.82).

Conclusions: Adhering to the DASH eating pattern, and especially focusing on consuming recommended amounts vegetables, nut/legumes, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products may help to attenuate age-related cognitive decline and decrease risk for dementia among the elderly.