Influence of changes in diet quality on unhealthy aging: the Seniors-ENRICA cohort

This cohort study suggests, but doesn’t prove, that older adults who adopt a healthy diet can significantly and meaningfully reduce the rate of functional decline. James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Background

Whether adopting a better diet in late life influences the aging process is still uncertain. Thus, we examined the association between changes in diet quality and unhealthy aging.

Methods

Data came from 2042 individuals aged ≥ 60 years recruited in the Seniors-ENRICA cohort in 2008–2010 (wave 0) and followed-up in 2012 (wave 1) and 2015 (wave 2). Diet quality was assessed with the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS), the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) and the Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010) at waves 0 and 1. Unhealthy ageing was measured using a 52-item health deficit accumulation index with 4 domains (functional, self-rated health/vitality, mental health, and morbidity/health services use) at each wave. An increase in dietary indices represents a diet improvement, and a lower deficit accumulation index indicates a health improvement.

Results

Compared with participants with a > 1-point decrease in MEDAS or MDS, those with a > 1-point increase showed lower deficit accumulation from wave 0 to wave 2 (multivariate β [95% CI]: –1.49 [− 2.88 to − 0.10], p-trend = 0.04 for MEDAS; and − 2.20 [− 3.56 to − 0.84], p-trend = 0.002 for MDS) and from wave 1 to wave 2 (− 1.34 [− 2.60 to − 0.09], p-trend = 0.04 for MEDAS). Also, participants with a > 5-point increase in AHEI-2010 showed lower deficit accumulation from wave 0 to wave 1 (− 1.15 [− 2.01 to − 0.28], p-trend = 0.009) and from wave 0 to wave 2 (− 1.21 [− 2.31 to − 0.10], p-trend = 0.03) than those with a > 5-point decrease. These results were mostly due to a strong association between improved diet quality and less functional deterioration.

Conclusions

In older adults, adopting a better diet was associated with less deficit accumulation, particularly functional deterioration. Improving dietary habits may delay unhealthy ageing. Our results have clinical relevance since we have observed that the deficit accumulation index decreases an average of 0.74 annually.

Author/s:

Ortolá, Rosario, García-Esquinas, Esther, García-Varela, Giselle, Struijkab, Ellen A., Rodríguez-Artalejo, Fernando, Lopez-Garcia, Esther

The Mediterranean Diet: What You Need to Know About Eating the Mediterranean Way

Tracy Ashby — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Date Added:

November 2, 2018

Publisher:

HelpGuide.org

Publication Date:

September 1, 2018

URL:

The Mediterranean Diet: What You Need to Know About Eating the Mediterranean Way

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Format:

Article

Keywords

MeSH

This is an explanation of the Mediterranean Diet.

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When you think about Mediterranean food, your mind may go to pizza and pasta from Italy, or lamb chops from Greece, but these dishes don’t fit into the healthy dietary plans advertised as “Mediterranean.” A true Mediterranean diet consists mainly of fruits and vegetables, seafood, olive oil, hearty grains, and other foods that help fight against heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, and cognitive decline. It’s a diet worth chasing; making the switch from pepperoni and pasta to fish and avocados may take some effort, but you could soon be on a path to a healthier and longer life.

Author/s:

Smith, Melinda, Segal, Robert