2022 International Conference on Aging in the Americas

Abstract

By 2060, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in Latinos is projected to increase by 832%. Evidence among primarily non-Latino Whites suggests that dietary patterns may reduce cognitive decline and improve psychosocial outcomes; however, this association between dietary patterns and health outcomes among Latinos is understudied. Methods: The purpose of the study was to examine relationships between two diet indices (i.e., Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) and Mediterranean (Med) diet), cognition, and psychological distress. This was a cross-sectional analysis of 61 Latinos (Mage=58.59 ± 8.66, 67% female) that completed the 2005 Food Frequency Questionnaire to assess and score adherence to two dietary patterns. Participants completed the word fluency test to assess working memory, and the NIH Toolbox was used to assess psychological distress (i.e., perceived stress, general life satisfaction, sadness, and loneliness). Multiple linear regressions were conducted to predict domains of cognition and psychological distress based on MIND diet and MedDiet adherence while controlling for age, sex, and education. Results: MIND diet scores significantly predicted verbal fluency scores (β = .301, p = .018), but not psychological distress. MedDiet adherence significantly predicted psychological distress such as perceived stress levels (β = -.437, p = .001), general life satisfaction (β = .411, p = .002), and sadness (β = -.335, p = .039), but not loneliness or verbal fluency. Discussion: Higher adherence to the MIND diet and MedDiet was associated with better working memory and psychological distress, respectively, among Latinos. Future intervention trials testing the effects of specific dietary patterns on health outcomes are warranted to help inform dietary recommendations for reducing risk of cognitive decline among Latinos.