Association between food and nutrient intakes and cognitive capacity in a group of institutionalized elderly people.
BACKGROUND
Some authors have indicated that the cognitive decline may be due to an inadequate nutritional status.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between food and nutrient intakes and cognitive capacity score in a group of institutionalized elderly people.


METHODS
The study subjects were 178 elderly (> or = 65 years of age) institutionalized people from the Madrid region. The diets of these subjects were recorded using the precise weighing method over a 7-day period, and their cognitive capacity assessed using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ). Subjects were grouped into those who did not incur errors (SPMSQ = 0) and who incurred one or more errors (SPMSQ > 0). Since an association was seen between the SPMSQ test score and age (r = 0.2030; p < 0.01), the subjects were also grouped according to whether they were above or below the percentile 50 (P(50)) for this variable (83 years).


RESULTS
The subjects with no errors in the SPMSQ test (32%) consumed greater quantities of cereals, eggs, oils, and fats. After adjusting for energy intake and educational level an inverse association was seen between fish and vegetable consumption and cognitive capacity score. In addition, these subjects had greater intakes of carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fatty acids, riboflavin, and vitamins C, D, and E. After adjusting for energy intake, a negative relationship was found between cognitive capacity score and the intake of fibre, vitamin B(6), and folic acid.


CONCLUSIONS
In general, the subjects of our study showed an adequate mental capacity, but those who made no errors in the SPMSQ test had more satisfactory diets. This shows the importance of the diet in the maintenance of cognitive function.
Aparicio Vizuete
Aránzazu
A
Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040, Madrid, Spain. araparic@farm.ucm.es
Robles
Francisco
F
Rodríguez-Rodríguez
Elena
E
López-Sobaler
Ana María
AM
Ortega
Rosa María
RM
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004522:Educational Status; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D014815:Vitamins; D012256:Riboflavin