Dietary Patterns, Physical Activity, Sleep, and Risk for Dementia and Cognitive Decline

Overview

Journal Curr Nutr Rep

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2018 Nov 11

PMID 30413973

Citations 38

Authors

Chen Zhao

James M Noble

Karen Marder

Jacob S Hartman

Yian Gu

Nikolaos Scarmeas

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose Of Review: Diet, physical activity, and sleep are three major modifiable lifestyle factors. This selective review examines the evidence for strong and reliable associations between these three lifestyle factors and risk of dementia and cognitive decline, in an effort to assist clinicians with providing more informed answers to the common questions they face from patients.

Recent Findings: Certain aspects of nutrition can decrease risk for dementia. Physical activity has also been associated with delayed or slower age-related cognitive decline. In addition, emerging evidence links sleep dysfunction and dementia, with amyloid deposition being a possible mediator. Data from further clinical trials are needed before more definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding the efficacy of these lifestyle interventions for lowering the risk of incident dementia and cognitive decline. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to make recommendations to our patients to adopt certain dietary changes and to engage in regular physical activity to improve cardiovascular risk factors for dementia. It is also reasonable to include questions on sleep during cognitive evaluations of the elderly, given the common co-occurrence of sleep dysfunction and cognitive impairment in the elderly population.

Citing Articles

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Exploring the relationship of sleep duration on cognitive function among the elderly: a combined NHANES 2011-2014 and mendelian randomization analysis.

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Evidence of the Long-Term Protective Effect of Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity on Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals: A Predictive Analysis of Longitudinal Studies.

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Dietary patterns and cardiorespiratory fitness in midlife and subsequent all-cause dementia: findings from the cooper center longitudinal study.

Meernik C, Eilat-Adar S, Leonard D, Barlow C, Gerber Y, Tesler R Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2024; 21(1):109.

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Association of obesity indicators with cognitive function among US adults aged 60 years and older: Results from NHANES.

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