Dietary patterns and cognitive function in older adults residing in rural China

Background and Objectives: Research has produced inconsistent findings on the association between dietary patterns and cognitive function. In the present study, we examined the association between dietary patterns and cognitive function among rural China's older adults and aimed to identify major dietary patterns. Methods and Study Design: This cross-sectional study included 1176 individuals aged 65-85 years. Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Factor analysis and the Chinese Dietary Balance Index were respectively employed to determine dietary patterns and assess dietary quality. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination, and logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between dietary patterns and cognitive decline. Results: Three main dietary patterns were identified and named on the basis of foods with high content: a "healthy dietary pattern," a "multigrain dietary pattern," and a "snack dietary pattern." With the increase in the score of the healthy dietary pattern, the Mini-Mental State Examination total score exhibited a significant downward trend (p