Association of Whole Grain Consumption and Cognitive Decline: An Investigation From a Community-Based Biracial Cohort of Older Adults

To examine the association of whole grain consumption and longitudinal change in global cognition, perceptual speed, and episodic memory by different race/ethnicity. We included 3,326 participants from the Chicago Health and Aging Project who responded to a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), with 2 or more cognitive assessments. Global cognition was assessed using a composite score of episodic memory, perceptual speed, and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Diet was assessed by a 144-item FFQ. Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate the association of intakes of whole grains and cognitive decline. This study involved 3,326 participants (60.1% African American [AA], 63.7% female) with a mean age of 75 years at baseline and a mean follow-up of 6.1 years. Higher consumption of whole grains was associated with a slower rate of global cognitive decline. Among AA participants, those in the highest quintile of whole grain consumption had a slower rate of decline in global cognition (β = 0.024, 95% CI [0.008-0.039], = 0.004), perceptual speed (β = 0.023, 95% CI [0.007-0.040], = 0.005), and episodic memory (β = 0.028, 95% CI [0.005-0.050], = 0.01) compared with those on the lowest quintile. Regarding the amount consumed, in AA participants, those who consumed >3 servings/d vs those who consumed 3 servings/d, we found a suggestive association of whole grains with global cognitive decline when compared with those who consumed