Dietary Patterns and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Findings from the Western Australia Memory Study

Carolina Blagojevic Castro; Samantha L. Gardener; Farzana Jahan; Juliana Chen; Belinda M. Brown; Ruey L. Loo; Kevin Taddei; Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith; Michael Weinborn; Ana Caroline R. dos Reis; Manohar L. Garg; Ralph N. Martins; Hamid R. Sohrabi

doi:10.3390/nu18162592

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Dietary Patterns and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Findings from the Western Australia Memory Study

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Dietary Patterns and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Findings from the Western Australia Memory Study

Carolina Blagojevic Castro, Samantha L. Gardener, Farzana Jahan, Juliana Chen, Belinda M. Brown, Ruey L. Loo, Kevin Taddei, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Michael Weinborn, Ana Caroline R. dos Reis, …

Nutrients, Vol.18(16), 2592

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18162592

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Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease

APOE ε4 genotype

attention

cognition

cognitive decline

dietary patterns

Background Preventive strategies, including adherence to specific dietary patterns, have received increasing attention as approaches to reduce cognitive decline and dementia risk. However, findings remain inconsistent, partly due to differences in dietary assessment methods, cognitive outcomes, and THE consideration of genetic susceptibility factors such as apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype. Methods This study examined associations between dietary patterns and longitudinal cognitive change in 185 older adults without dementia from the Western Australia Memory Study. Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire at baseline and underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessments at baseline and up to five follow-up visits at 18-month intervals. Composite scores were generated for six cognitive domains and the Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite (PACC). Results Western and Prudent dietary pattern scores were analysed using linear mixed-effects models stratified by APOE ε4 carrier status. Among APOE ε4 carriers, greater adherence to a Western dietary pattern was associated with a faster decline in attention (p = 0.016), whereas no significant associations were observed for the Prudent dietary pattern or among APOE ε4 non-carriers. This association was attenuated after excluding participants with possible baseline cognitive impairment (MoCA < 23). Conclusion These findings suggest that adherence to a Western dietary pattern may accelerate cognitive decline in individuals genetically at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting the importance of considering gene–diet interactions when developing dietary strategies for dementia prevention.

Details

Title: Dietary Patterns and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Findings from the Western Australia Memory Study
Authors/Creators: Carolina Blagojevic Castro
Samantha L. Gardener - Edith Cowan University
Farzana Jahan - Murdoch University
Juliana Chen - The University of Sydney
Belinda M. Brown - Murdoch University
Ruey L. Loo - Murdoch University
Kevin Taddei - Australian Alzheimer’s Research Foundation
Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith - Murdoch University
Michael Weinborn - The University of Western Australia
Ana Caroline R. dos Reis
Manohar L. Garg - Macquarie University
Ralph N. Martins - Macquarie University
Hamid R. Sohrabi - Murdoch University
Publication Details: Nutrients, Vol.18(16), 2592
Publisher: MDPI AG; BASEL
Number of pages: 21
Identifiers: 991005912903607891
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Psychology; Research and Innovation Office; School of Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry and Physics; Centre for Healthy Ageing; Health Futures Institute; Centre for Computational and Systems Medicine
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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