title: Education and WHO recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake are associated with better cognitive function in a disadvantaged Brazilian elderly population: a population-based cross-sectional study.
abstract: Brazil has one of the fastest aging populations in the world and the incidence of cognitive impairment in the elderly is expected to increase exponentially. We examined the association between cognitive impairment and fruit and vegetable intake and associated factors in a low-income elderly population. A cross-sectional population-based study was carried out with 1849 individuals aged 65 or over living in São Paulo, Brazil. Cognitive function was assessed using the Community Screening Instrument for Dementia (CSI-D). Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed with a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and categorized into quartiles of intake and into total daily fruit and vegetable intake using the cut-off points for the WHO recommendations (<400 grams/day or ≥ 400 grams/day). The association between cognitive impairment and each quartile of intake, and WHO recommendation levels, was evaluated in two separate multivariate logistic models. The WHO recommendations for daily intakes ≥ 400 grams/day were significantly associated with 47% decreased prevalence of cognitive impairment. An effect modification was found in both models between cognitive impairment and "years of education and physical activity" and "years of education and blood levels of HDL" So that, having 1 or more years of education and being physically active or having 1 or more years of education and levels higher than 50 mg/dl of HDL-cholesterol strongly decreased the prevalence of cognitive impairment. In this socially deprived population with very low levels of education and physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake, those who attained WHO recommendations, had 1 year or more of education and were physically active had a significantly lower prevalence of cognitive impairment. A more comprehensive understanding of the social determinants of mental health is needed to develop effective public policies in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Salud Pública Historia de la Ciencia y Ginecología, Universidad Miguel Hernández, España; CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pastor-Valero
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Furlan-Viebig
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Rossi
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: Simone Almeida
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Brazil.
authors.forename: Simon Almeida
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry and LIM-23, Brazil.
authors.forename: Homero
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vallada
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry and LIM-23, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scazufca
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014675:Vegetables; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
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