Higher versus lower nut consumption and changes in cognitive performance over two years in a population at risk of cognitive decline: a cohort study
Jiaqi Ni, Stephanie Nishi, Nancy Babió, Emilio Ros, Francisco Javier Basterra-Gortari, Dolores Corella, Olga Castañer, J. Alfredo Martínéz, Ángel M. Alonso‐Gómez, Julia Wärnberǵ, Jesús Vioqué, Dora Romaguera, José López‐Miranda, Ramón Estruch, Francisco J. Tinahones, José Manuel Santos‐Lozano, Lluís Serra‐Majem, Naomi Cano‐Ibáñez, Josep A. Tur, José Manuel Fernández‐García, Xavier Pintó, Miguel Delgado‐Rodríguez, Pilar Matía‐Martín, Josép Vidal, Clotilde Vázquez, Lidia Daimiel, Fernando Fernández‐Aranda, Miguel Ruiz‐Canela, Cristina Mestres Solà, Olga Portolés, Aleix Sala‐Vila, Antonio García‐Ríos, Laura Compañ‐Gabucio, Enrique Gómez‐Gracia, M. Ángeles Zulet, Alice Chaplin, Rosa Casas, Silvia Martínez-Diz, Lucas Tojal‐Sierra, Ana María Gómez-Pérez, Estefanía Toledo, Santiago Ríos, Carolina Ortega‐Azorín, Rafael de la Torre, Patricia J. Peña‐Orihuela, Manuela García de la Hera, Carmen Sayón-Orea, Mireia Malcampo, Jordi Salas‐Salvadó
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tree nuts and peanuts (henceforth, nuts) are nutrient-dense foods rich in neuroprotective components; thus, their consumption could benefit cognitive health. However, evidence to date is limited and inconsistent regarding the potential benefits of nuts for cognitive function. OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the association between nut consumption and 2-y changes in cognitive performance in older adults at cognitive decline risk. METHODS: A total of 6,630 participants aged 55 to 75 y (mean age 65.0±4.9 y, 48.4% women) with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome completed a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests at baseline and a 2-y follow-up. Composite cognitive scores were used to assess global, general, attention, and executive function domains. Nut consumption was categorized as <1, ≥1 to <3, ≥3 to <7, and ≥7 servings/wk (1 serving=30 g). Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were fitted to assess associations between baseline nut consumption and 2-y cognitive changes. RESULTS: Nut consumption was positively associated with 2-y changes in general cognitive function (P-trend <0.001). Compared with participants consuming <1 serving/wk of nuts, those categorized as consuming ≥3 to <7 and ≥7 servings/wk showed more favorable changes in general cognitive performance (β z-score [95% CI] = 0.06 [0.00,0.12] and 0.13 [0.06,0.20], respectively). No significant changes were observed in the multivariable-adjusted models for other cognitive domains assessed. CONCLUSION: Frequent nut consumption was associated with a smaller decline in general cognitive performance over 2 y in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. Randomized clinical trials to verify our findings are warranted.