Flavonol Intake and Cognitive Decline in Middle-Aged Adults.
Cognitive decline occurs with age and may be slowed by dietary measures, including increased intake of dietary phytochemicals. However, evidence from large and long-term studies of flavonol intake is limited. Dietary intakes of flavonols were assessed from a large biracial study of 10,041 subjects, aged 45-64, by analysis of a food frequency questionnaire administered at visit 1 of triennial visits. Cognitive function was assessed at visits 2 and 4 with the following three cognitive performance tests: the delayed word recall test, the revised Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale digit symbol subtest, and the word fluency test of the Multilingual Aphasia Examination. The change in each score over 6 years was calculated, and a combined standardized change score was calculated. Generalized linear models controlled for age, ethnicity, gender, education level, energy intake, current smoking, physical activity, body mass index, diabetes, and vitamin C intake. Total flavonols across quintiles of intake were positively associated with preserved combined cognitive function (P<.001). This pattern with preserved combined cognitive function was consistent for the three major individual flavonols in the diet, myricetin, kaempferol, and quercetin (each P<.001). The positive association with total flavonols was strongest for the digit symbol subtest (P<.001). In this cohort, flavonol intake was correlated with protected cognitive function over time.
Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management, Appalachian State University , Boone, North Carolina.
Martin
M
Root
Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management, Appalachian State University , Boone, North Carolina.
Erin
E
Ravine
Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management, Appalachian State University , Boone, North Carolina.
Anne
A
Harper
D000375:Aging; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044948:Flavonols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D044949:Kaempferols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D005419:Flavonoids; D044948:Flavonols; D044949:Kaempferols; D010936:Plant Extracts; C006552:kaempferol; C040015:myricetin; D011794:Quercetin
ARIC; cognitive function; dementia; diet; flavonoids; prospective cohort