title: Nutrition and cognitive deficit in the elderly: a population study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between a healthy diet indicator and the prevalence of cognitive impairment in the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population based.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1651 subjects (560 men and 1091 women) including everybody aged 70 y or more, and a random sample of people (about 40%) aged 65-69 y resident in four rural towns in the province of Pavia, Italy in 1992-1993.
  
  
  METHODS
  The healthy diet indicator based on the WHO guidelines for the prevention of chronic diseases was calculated as reported by Huijbregts et al (1998; Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 52, 826-831). Food intake was estimated by means of a 180-item food-frequency questionnaire and nutrient intake was calculated using the food composition database compiled for epidemiologic studies in Italy. The cognitive function was categorized into four levels-normal cognition, mild, moderate and severe cognitive deficit-according to the neuropsychological test score. The relationship between the dietary and the ordinal cognitive function variables was studied using the proportional-odds model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for age, sex, education, total energy intake, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity, a better healthy diet score was associated with a lower prevalence of cognitive deficit. The cumulative odds ratio was 0.85 (95% CI 0.77-0.93).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest an association between a globally satisfactory diet and better cognitive performance in the elderly. However, the specific aspects of a 'healthy diet' for the elderly should be clarified.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  National Research Council (Italy), 'Invecchiamento' Project no. 95.01048.PF40.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Corrêa Leite
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolosi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cristina
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nappi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires