The association between Chinese adapted MIND diet and cognitive function in Chinese middle-aged and older adults: results from the Chinese Square Dance Cohort

This study aimed to assess the relationship between Chinese adapted MIND diet and cognitive functioning and performance in different cognitive domains across a cross-section of Chinese middle-aged and older adults.

This cross-sectional study used baseline data from the Lifestyle and Healthy Ageing in Chinese Square Dancers study. Chinese adapted MIND diet scores were calculated from a detailed retrospective semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire assessment. By averaging the z-scores of Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), Verbal Fluency Test (VFT), Digital Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), and Trail Making Test-B (TMT-B), a comprehensive z-score is obtained to represent global cognition. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was diagnosed based on Petersen’s criteria. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the relationship between Chinese adapted MIND diet scores and z-scores of cognitive functions, and multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the association between diet scores and MCI.

In this study, a total of 4335 participants were included, whose mean age was 63.61 years (SD = 5.15), 85.07% were female, and 13.33% (578/4335) of them had MCI. In the fully adjusted model, the group with the highest diet scores had the best cognitive function compared to the group with the lowest diet scores (P < 0.05), including global cognitive function (β = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.15), AVLT (β = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.20), VFT (β = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.20), DSST (β = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.14), and TMT-B (β =-0.10, 95% CI: -0.18, -0.01). In addition, compared to the lowest group, the highest diet scores group were associated with lower odd ratio of MCI (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.93).

Our findings support that higher adherence to Chinese adapted MIND diet is associated with better cognitive function and lower prevalence odds ratio for MCI in a Chinese middle-aged and older population.