Mediterranean lifestyle patterns are associated with cognition in older adults

Abstract

Funding information Greeceand theEuropeanUnion,Grant/Award Number:MIS5049030 Abstract Introduction: In recent years, research interest has shifted to the study of overall lifestyle, rather than individual lifestyle factors, in relation to health outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of different lifestyle patterns, close to the concept of the Mediterranean lifestyle, using both a priori and a posteriori methods, with cognition of older adults, free of dementia. Methods: A total of 1726 participants ≥65 years old (59% women) from the HELIAD study were included in the present cross-sectional analysis. Diet, physical activity, sleep, social life, and daily functioning were assessed using standard, validated questionnaires. A comprehensive neurological and neuropsychological assessment was conducted, evaluating all cognitive domains: memory, executive functions, visual– spatial perception, language, and attention-processing speed, as well as global cognitive functioning. Results: Two lifestyle indices were constructed on the basis of the Mediterranean lifestyle,whereas principal component analysiswasused to generate lifestyle patterns. The results showed that the two indices and theMediterranean diet and activities pattern aswell as theMediterraneandiet and social contacts patternwere positively associated with almost all major cognitive domains as well as global cognitive functioning. Specifically, every unit increase in one of the lifestyle indices, consisting of adherence to the Mediterranean diet, sleep quality, physical activity, and daily functioning, was associated with 9.8%, 7.1%, 6.8%, 7.2%, and 8.5% increased odds of better memory, executive function, visual–spatial perception, language, and global cognitive functioning, respectively. Conclusions: Our results showed that a healthy lifestyle, close to the concept of the Mediterranean lifestyle, independently of theapproachused todefine it,waspositively associatedwith cognitive function in older adults. Thus, health experts should also consider overall lifestylewhen screening for cognitive deficits in this vulnerable age group.