Women who adhere to blood pressure-lowering diets in their middle years were approximately 17 percent less likely to experience memory loss and other signs of cognitive decline in the following decades, said a new study led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. This finding suggests that adopting the ‘Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension’ (DASH) diet in midlife may lead to improved cognitive function in later life, which is particularly important for women, who make up the majority of Alzheimer’s disease cases.
The study, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, carries significant implications for the more than 6.5 million Americans aged 65 and older, a number projected to double by 2060.
“Subjective complaints about daily cognitive performance are early predictors of more serious neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s,” explains Yu Chen, PhD, MPH, a professor in the Department of Population Health and the senior author of the study. “With more than 30 years of follow-up, we found that the stronger the adherence to a DASH diet in midlife, the less likely women is to report cognitive issues much later in life.”
DASH DIET
The DASH diet is characterized by a high consumption of plant-based foods rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium, while limiting saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and sugar. It’s been well-established that high blood pressure, particularly in midlife, is a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia.
To conduct the study, researchers analyzed data from 5,116 women enrolled in the NYU Women’s Health Study, which is one of the longest-running studies exploring the impact of lifestyle and other factors on the development of common women’s cancers and other chronic conditions. Diet information was collected via questionnaires between 1985 and 1991 when the participants were an average of 49 years old.
Over the course of more than 30 years (with an average age of 79 at the end of the study), the participants were asked to report any cognitive complaints. Self-reported cognitive complaints were assessed using six standard questions that indicate early signs of mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to dementia. These questions related to difficulties in remembering recent events or shopping lists, understanding spoken instructions or group conversation, and navigating familiar streets.
THE FINDINGS
A notable finding was that 33 percent of the women reported experiencing more than one cognitive complaint. The study revealed that women who closely adhered to the DASH diet had a 17 percent reduction in the likelihood of reporting multiple cognitive complaints.
“Our data suggest that it is important to start a healthy diet in midlife to prevent cognitive impairment in older age,” emphasized Yixiao Song, a lead author of the study.
Fen Wu, PhD, a senior associate research scientist who co-led the study, further commented, “Following the DASH diet may not only prevent high blood pressure but also cognitive issues.” This research underscores the vital role of dietary choices in promoting brain health and preventing cognitive decline as individuals age.
