Yonsei Med J.  2024 Apr;65(4):217-226. 10.3349/ymj.2023.0119.

Effect of Dietary Habits on Alzheimer’s Disease Progression

• Ahn SH
• Jeong JH
• Park KW
• Kim EJ
• Yoon SJ
• Yoon B
• Jang JW
• Minn Y
• Choi SH

• KMID: 2554222
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2023.0119

Abstract

Purpose
Research on the relationship between diet and dementia among Koreans are lacking. This study investigated the association between dietary habits and dementia progression over 3 years in patients with Alzheimer’s disease dementia (ADD).
Materials and Methods
This study included 705 patients with mild-to-moderate ADD. Dietary habits were assessed using the Mini Dietary Assessment Index, comprising 10 questions. Outcome measures included the Clinical Dementia Rating scale-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), Seoul-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Caregiver-Administered Neuropsychiatric Inventory (CGA-NPI), and neuropsychological test battery (NTB) z-scores, which were evaluated annually over 3 years.
Results
In Q10 (eat all food evenly without being picky), the 3-year mean differences in CDR-SB (increases in scores represent worsening) compared to the “rarely” group were -1.86 [95% confidence interval (CI)=-3.64 – -0.09, p=0.039] for the “usually” group and -2.23 (95% CI=-4.40 – -0.06, p=0.044) for the “always” group. In Q7 (add salt or soy sauce to food when eating), the 3-year mean differences in CDR-SB compared to the “always” group were -2.47 (95% CI=-4.70 – -0.24, p=0.030) for the “usually” group and -3.16 (95% CI=-5.36 – -0.96, p=0.005) for the “rarely” group. The “rarely” and “usually” groups in Q7 showed significantly less decline in NTB z-score and CGA-NPI compared to the “always” group.
Conclusion
Eating a balanced diet and reducing salt intake were associated with a slower decline in dementia severity, cognition, and behavioral alterations in patients with ADD.

Keyword

Dementia; Alzheimer’s disease; diet; feeding behavior; disease progression