Association of MIND diet with cognitive decline among Black and White older adults

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONWe examined the Mediterranean–Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet's association with cognitive decline by race among older adults in the Chicago Health and Aging Project.METHODSFive thousand two hundred fifty‐nine participants (73.5 [± 6.0] years, 62% Black participants, 62% female) completed a food frequency questionnaire, and two or more cognitive assessments over 7.8 ± 4.6 years.RESULTSOverall, higher MIND diet was associated with slower cognitive decline (p for trend = 0.0025). The MIND score (range:0‐15) was different between Black and White older adults(6.97 vs. 7.12, p = 0.010). Compared to the lowest tertile, among White participants, the two highest tertiles (MIND score –7: β = 0.0121 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0006, 0.0237]; MIND score –8.5: β = 0.0146 [95% CI: 0.0003, 0.0260]) and among Black participants, only the highest tertile (MIND score –8.5: β = 0.0088 [95% CI: 0.0003, 0.0172]) had association with cognitive decline. Vascular and lifestyle factors attenuated the association only for Black older adults.DISCUSSIONThe MIND diet was associated with slower cognitive decline in Black and White older adults, but this may vary with other lifestyle and vascular factors. Further research is warranted on race‐specific cultural diets considering other risk factors for cognitive decline.Highlights The intake of Mediterranean–Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet components varies by race. The MIND diet may slow cognitive decline in both Black and White older adults. This association may vary with other lifestyle and vascular risk factors.