title: Fat intake at midlife and cognitive impairment later in life: a population-based CAIDE study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association of midlife dietary fat intake to cognitive performance, and to the occurrence of clinical mild cognitive impairment (MCI) later in life in a non-demented population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal population-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Populations of Kuopio and Joensuu, Eastern Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants of the CAIDE study were derived from random, population-based samples studied at midlife (1972, 1977, 1982 or 1987). After an average follow-up of 21 years, a total of 1449 (72%) individuals aged 65-80 years participated in the re-examination in 1998. Altogether 82 (5.7%) people were diagnosed as having MCI. Dietary information was collected with a structured questionnaire and an interview at midlife.
  
  
  METHODS
  MCI, global cognitive and executive functions, episodic, semantic and prospective memory and psychomotor speed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Abundant saturated fat (SFA) intake from milk products and spreads at midlife was associated with poorer global cognitive function and prospective memory and with an increased risk of MCI (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.17-4.74) after adjusting for demographic and vascular factors, other fats and ApoE. On the contrary, high intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was associated with better semantic memory. Also frequent fish consumption was associated with better global cognitive function and semantic memory. Further, higher PUFA-SFA ratio was associated with better psychomotor speed and executive function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggests that dietary fat intake at midlife affects cognitive performance and occurrence of MCI later in life. The impact of dietary interventions needs to be tested in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Marjo H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Eskelinen
authors.forename: Tiia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ngandu
authors.forename: Eeva-Liisa
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Helkala
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuomilehto
authors.forename: Aulikki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nissinen
authors.forename: Hilkka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soininen
authors.forename: Miia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kivipelto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000009:adverse effects; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004522:Educational Status; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D002784:Cholesterol