The impact of diet quality on cognitive ability of Chinese older adults: evidence from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS)
Abstract Background Numerous studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between diet quality and cognitive performance, indicating that improving diet quality may be beneficial in preventing cognitive decline in older adults. However, few study has investigated the causal relationship between...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04630-6 |
| _version_ | 1797355505707909120 |
|---|---|
| author | Ziwei Xu Shuaizhen Chen Min Guo Tianlei Zhang Xiaoxuan Niu Yuxin Zhou Jialong Tan Jian Wang |
| author_facet | Ziwei Xu Shuaizhen Chen Min Guo Tianlei Zhang Xiaoxuan Niu Yuxin Zhou Jialong Tan Jian Wang |
| author_sort | Ziwei Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Numerous studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between diet quality and cognitive performance, indicating that improving diet quality may be beneficial in preventing cognitive decline in older adults. However, few study has investigated the causal relationship between diet quality and cognitive performance. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the causal effects of diet quality on cognitive performance in Chinese adults aged 55 years and older. Particularly, we utilize the Chinese Diet Quality Index (CHEI), a dietary assessment tool tailored for Chinese populations, as a proxy for older adults’ diet quality. Methods Data were obtained from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) ( $$N = 2337$$ N = 2337 , $$\ge$$ ≥ 55 years old) conducted in 2004 and 2006. Cognitive function was tested by a subset of items from the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified (TICS-m). Data on dietary intake was retrieved from three consecutive 24 hour recalls by participants and its quality was assessed by the 17-items Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI). An Instrumental Variable technique was used to deal with the potential endogeneity of dietary quality. The instrumental variable used in our study is the community mean of CHEI. Results After adjusting for socio-demographic factors (age, gender, education, per capita household income), lifestyle habits (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, BMI), and chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes), our findings revealed that improving diet quality had a significant positive effect on cognitive performance ( $$P = 0.020$$ P = 0.020 ), particularly in females aged 55-65 years ( $$P = 0.003$$ P = 0.003 ) and females with primary education and below ( $$P < 0.001$$ P < 0.001 ). Conclusion Our study suggests that improving diet quality and adhering to the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese may enhance cognitive performance in Chinese adults aged 55 years and older. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:12:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-61fe205ae2e2478aa81b40a7a6d4eba0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:12:08Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-61fe205ae2e2478aa81b40a7a6d4eba02024-01-14T12:35:40ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182024-01-0124111210.1186/s12877-023-04630-6The impact of diet quality on cognitive ability of Chinese older adults: evidence from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS)Ziwei Xu0Shuaizhen Chen1Min Guo2Tianlei Zhang3Xiaoxuan Niu4Yuxin Zhou5Jialong Tan6Jian Wang7Dong Fureng Institute of Economics and Social Development, Wuhan UniversityDong Fureng Institute of Economics and Social Development, Wuhan UniversityDong Fureng Institute of Economics and Social Development, Wuhan UniversityDong Fureng Institute of Economics and Social Development, Wuhan UniversityDong Fureng Institute of Economics and Social Development, Wuhan UniversityDong Fureng Institute of Economics and Social Development, Wuhan UniversityDong Fureng Institute of Economics and Social Development, Wuhan UniversityDong Fureng Institute of Economics and Social Development, Wuhan UniversityAbstract Background Numerous studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between diet quality and cognitive performance, indicating that improving diet quality may be beneficial in preventing cognitive decline in older adults. However, few study has investigated the causal relationship between diet quality and cognitive performance. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the causal effects of diet quality on cognitive performance in Chinese adults aged 55 years and older. Particularly, we utilize the Chinese Diet Quality Index (CHEI), a dietary assessment tool tailored for Chinese populations, as a proxy for older adults’ diet quality. Methods Data were obtained from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) ( $$N = 2337$$ N = 2337 , $$\ge$$ ≥ 55 years old) conducted in 2004 and 2006. Cognitive function was tested by a subset of items from the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified (TICS-m). Data on dietary intake was retrieved from three consecutive 24 hour recalls by participants and its quality was assessed by the 17-items Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI). An Instrumental Variable technique was used to deal with the potential endogeneity of dietary quality. The instrumental variable used in our study is the community mean of CHEI. Results After adjusting for socio-demographic factors (age, gender, education, per capita household income), lifestyle habits (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, BMI), and chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes), our findings revealed that improving diet quality had a significant positive effect on cognitive performance ( $$P = 0.020$$ P = 0.020 ), particularly in females aged 55-65 years ( $$P = 0.003$$ P = 0.003 ) and females with primary education and below ( $$P < 0.001$$ P < 0.001 ). Conclusion Our study suggests that improving diet quality and adhering to the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese may enhance cognitive performance in Chinese adults aged 55 years and older.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04630-6Dietary indexDietary qualityCognitionDietary guidelinesInstrumental variable |
| spellingShingle | Ziwei Xu Shuaizhen Chen Min Guo Tianlei Zhang Xiaoxuan Niu Yuxin Zhou Jialong Tan Jian Wang The impact of diet quality on cognitive ability of Chinese older adults: evidence from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) BMC Geriatrics Dietary index Dietary quality Cognition Dietary guidelines Instrumental variable |
| title | The impact of diet quality on cognitive ability of Chinese older adults: evidence from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) |
| title_full | The impact of diet quality on cognitive ability of Chinese older adults: evidence from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) |
| title_fullStr | The impact of diet quality on cognitive ability of Chinese older adults: evidence from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of diet quality on cognitive ability of Chinese older adults: evidence from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) |
| title_short | The impact of diet quality on cognitive ability of Chinese older adults: evidence from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) |
| title_sort | impact of diet quality on cognitive ability of chinese older adults evidence from the china health and nutrition survey chns |
| topic | Dietary index Dietary quality Cognition Dietary guidelines Instrumental variable |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04630-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ziweixu theimpactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns AT shuaizhenchen theimpactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns AT minguo theimpactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns AT tianleizhang theimpactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns AT xiaoxuanniu theimpactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns AT yuxinzhou theimpactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns AT jialongtan theimpactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns AT jianwang theimpactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns AT ziweixu impactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns AT shuaizhenchen impactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns AT minguo impactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns AT tianleizhang impactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns AT xiaoxuanniu impactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns AT yuxinzhou impactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns AT jialongtan impactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns AT jianwang impactofdietqualityoncognitiveabilityofchineseolderadultsevidencefromthechinahealthandnutritionsurveychns |