Association between dietary patterns and CAIDE-predicted dementia risk: A 20-year cohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology study

Abstract

This study examined associations between dietary habits and the risk of developing Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE)-predicted late-life dementia risk in Korean adults. A total of 5,042 participants aged 40-69 years were included. We assessed associations between dietary patterns-the Mediterranean diet, Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet, Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), and Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Index (EDII)-and CAIDE-predicted high risk of dementia. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models, and cumulative incidence was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Longitudinal trajectories of CAIDE scores over a 10-year period were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. During follow-up of 15.83 years, 30.9% progressed to CAIDE-predicted high risk of dementia. The highest tertile of the Mediterranean diet, MIND diet, and KHEI were associated with lower cumulative incidence (P = .008, P < .001, and P < .001) and reduced risk of progression to CAIDE-predicted high risk of dementia (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.67-0.90, HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.69-0.93, and HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.70-0.91, respectively) along with lower CAIDE score (P < .001, P < .001, P = .002). Conversely, the highest EDII tertile showed the highest cumulative incidence (P < .001), an increased risk of progression to CAIDE-predicted high risk of dementia (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.32), and elevated CAIDE scores (P < .001). Greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet, MIND diet, and KHEI, and lower consumption of pro-inflammatory diets were associated with a lower risk of high CAIDE-predicted late-life dementia and slower accumulation of risk factors.