title: The relationship between dietary lipids and cognitive performance in an elderly population.
abstract: Epidemiological studies on the association between diet and cognitive function suggested a possible role of dietary fatty acids in cognitive decline. The aim of the present study was to examine whether intake of different types of fatty acids is associated with cognitive status. A cohort of 304 (127 men and 177 women) institutionalized elderly people, with a mean age of 75.3 +/- 6.7 years, were studied. Subjects were evaluated for global cognitive functions (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE], Spanish version). Fatty acid intake was assessed with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were found to be predictors of cognitive impairment as they were negatively associated with the MMSE score. In accordance with this, fish intake was inversely associated with cognitive impairment. On the contrary, the n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio was positively related to the MMSE score. These results could not be explained by differences in age, sex, education, smoking behaviour, inactivity, alcohol, institution or energy intake. We suggest that consumption of EPA and DHA should be encouraged for reducing the risk of cognitive impairment and subsequently disability in elderly people.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Funcional, Area de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, Julián Clavería s/n, 33006 Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: José Ma
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Huerta
authors.forename: Serafina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Angeles M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lasheras
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017747:Seafood; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid