Mediterranean-DASH intervention for neurodegenerative delay diet adherence, physical activity, and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults
- 1Institute for Prevention and Control of Chronic Non-communicable Diseases, Henan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention , , ,
- 2Neihuang County Center for Disease Control and Prevention , , ,
- 3Mengzhou County Center for Disease Control and Prevention , , ,
Abstract
Background
Evidence on the associations between the Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet adherence, physical activity (PA), and cognitive function in Chinese older adults is limited. This study aimed to examine these associations and their potential interactions among community-dwelling older adults in Henan Province, China.Methods
Participants were recruited from 17 districts/counties in Henan Province, China, using the multistage stratified probability-proportional-to-size (PPS) sampling method. MIND diet adherence was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and PA was assessed based on self-reported exercise frequency and duration. Cognitive function was measured using the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Weighted generalized linear models (GLMs) were used to examine the associations between MIND diet adherence, PA, and their potential interaction and MMSE scores.Results
Higher MIND diet scores were significantly associated with higher MMSE scores (β = 0.259, 95% CI: 0.154-0.364, p < 0.001), whereas PA showed no significant independent association (β = 0.016, 95% CI: -0.017 to 0.049, p = 0.335). No significant interaction was observed between MIND diet adherence and PA regarding global cognitive function (β = -0.005, 95% CI: -0.013 to 0.002, p = 0.152). Domain-specific analyses showed significant associations between MIND diet scores and registration, attention and calculation, and recall (all β > 0, all p < 0.05). However, no significant interaction between MIND diet adherence and PA was observed for any domain (all p > 0.05).Conclusion
Higher adherence to the MIND diet was independently associated with better cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults in central China. These findings suggest that adherence to the MIND diet may be a practical strategy for promoting cognitive health in aging populations.
Related
- Association between the Chinese version of the Mediterranean-DASH intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet and BADL/IADL disability among older adults in China: a nationwide survey
- Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: Heterogeneity in the Association Across BMI Categories.
- Remote multicomponent intervention for older adults with cognitive impairment in community settings: multisite randomised controlled trial
- The relationship between smartphone addiction, Mediterranean diet adherence, body composition, and quality of life among university students: a cross-sectional study
- Cardiometabolic risk factors and Mediterranean diet adherence in patients with premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in Iran
BibTeX
@article{li2026mediterraneandash,
title = {{Mediterranean-DASH intervention for neurodegenerative delay diet adherence, physical activity, and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults}},
author = {Hui Li and Shuxian Yang and Yongjuan Wu and Xiaohua Wu and Kai Kang and Zhanfeng Liu and Lei Fan and Linqi Diao},
journal = {Frontiers in nutrition},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fnut.2026.1947659},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13752176},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Mediterranean-DASH intervention for neurodegenerative delay diet adherence, physical activity, and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults
AU - Hui Li
AU - Shuxian Yang
AU - Yongjuan Wu
AU - Xiaohua Wu
AU - Kai Kang
AU - Zhanfeng Liu
AU - Lei Fan
AU - Linqi Diao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/28
JO - Frontiers in nutrition
DO - 10.3389/fnut.2026.1947659
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13752176
AB - Background Evidence on the associations between the Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet adherence, physical activity (PA), and cognitive function in Chinese older adults is limited. This study aimed to examine these associations and their potential interactions among community-dwelling older adults in Henan Province, China.Methods Participants were recruited from 17 districts/counties in Henan Province, China, using the multistage stratified probability-proportional-to-size (PPS) sampling method. MIND diet adherence was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and PA was assessed based on self-reported exercise frequency and duration. Cognitive function was measured using the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Weighted generalized linear models (GLMs) were used to examine the associations between MIND diet adherence, PA, and their potential interaction and MMSE scores.Results Higher MIND diet scores were significantly associated with higher MMSE scores (β = 0.259, 95% CI: 0.154-0.364, p < 0.001), whereas PA showed no significant independent association (β = 0.016, 95% CI: -0.017 to 0.049, p = 0.335). No significant interaction was observed between MIND diet adherence and PA regarding global cognitive function (β = -0.005, 95% CI: -0.013 to 0.002, p = 0.152). Domain-specific analyses showed significant associations between MIND diet scores and registration, attention and calculation, and recall (all β > 0, all p < 0.05). However, no significant interaction between MIND diet adherence and PA was observed for any domain (all p > 0.05).Conclusion Higher adherence to the MIND diet was independently associated with better cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults in central China. These findings suggest that adherence to the MIND diet may be a practical strategy for promoting cognitive health in aging populations.
SN - 2296-861X
ER -