Estudios científicos
Association of Dietary Intake of Flavonols With Changes in Global Cognition and Several Cognitive Abilities
Abstract:
Background and Objectives Previous research has examined the association between cognition and flavonoids: bioactives found in foods, known to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We extend this research by investigating associations of dietary intakes of total flavonols and constituents (kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin, and isorhamnetin) on the change in cognitive performance in global cognition, episodic memory, semantic memory, visuospatial ability, perceptual speed, and working memory.
Methods The study was conducted using 961 participants (aged 60–100 years) of the Rush Memory and Aging Project, a prospective cohort of community-dwelling Chicagoans who were followed for an average of 6.9 years. Diet was assessed using a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Cognitive performance was assessed annually with a battery of 19 standardized tests. Flavonol intake was analyzed as a continuous variable using linear mixed-effects models. Cognitive domain scores were regressed on baseline calorie-adjusted flavonol variables.
Results Higher dietary intakes of total flavonols and flavonol constituents were associated with a slower rate of decline in global cognition and multiple cognitive domains. In continuous models adjusted for age, sex, education, APOE ɛ4, late-life cognitive activity, physical activity, and smoking, total flavonol intake was associated with slower decline in global cognition β estimate = 0.004 (95% CI 0.001–0.006), episodic memory β = 0.004 (95% CI 0.002–0.006), semantic memory β = 0.003 (95% CI 0.001–0.007), perceptual speed β = 0.003 (95% CI 0.001–0.004), and working memory β = 0.003 (95% CI 0.001–0.005) and marginally associated with visuospatial ability β = 0.001 (95% CI −0.001 to 0.003). Analyses of individual flavonol constituents demonstrated that intakes of kaempferol and quercetin were associated with slower global cognitive decline (β = 0.01 [95% CI 0.006–0.02] and β = 0.004 [95% CI 0.0005–0.007]), respectively. Myricetin and isorhamnetin were not associated with global cognition.
Discussion Results suggest that dietary intakes of total flavonols and several flavonol constituents may be associated with slower decline in global cognition and multiple cognitive abilities with older age.
Comentarios divulgativos:
Este trabajo investigó la asociación entre el consumo de flavonoles y la salud cognitiva. Los flavonoles son un tipo de compuestos presentes en pequeñas cantidades en alimentos de origen vegetal, como, por ejemplo, el vino, que se han relacionado con propiedades antioxidantes. Sus resultados sugirieron que una alimentación rica en este tipo de compuestos podría asociarse con un enlentecimiento del deterioro cognitivo asociado con la edad, y con una mejor conservación de las habilidades mentales (memoria, percepción).
En esta investigación se utilizaron datos de 961 voluntarios de entre 60 y 100 años, a los que se realizó un seguimiento durante una media de 6,9 años, y se recogió información sobre su alimentación y su función cognitiva.
En general, una dieta rica en flavonoles se relacionaba con un enlentecimiento del deterioro cognitivo, incluso cuando se consideraban otros factores que también pueden influir en el deterioro cognitivo, como la edad, el nivel educativo, la actividad física, ser fumador, o algunas variables genéticas, entre otras. Además, el estudio encontró asociaciones protectoras entre el consumo de flavonoles específicos como el kaempferol o la quercetina y un menor deterioro cognitivo.
