Abstract
Background: Higher dietary intake of potassium, calcium, and magnesium is protective against ischemic strokes while also being associated with a decreased risk of all-cause dementia. The effect of dietary iron intake on cerebral function is less clear but iron is also implicated in Alzheimer neuropathology. The aim of this study was to investigate whether dietary intake of these minerals was also associated with increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI, amnestic) and other mild cognitive disorders (MCD).Methods: Associations between dietary mineral intake and risk of MCI/MCD were assessed in cognitively healthy individuals (n = 1406, 52% female, mean age 62.5 years) living in the community, who were followed up over 8 years. Relative risk was assessed with Cox hazard ratios (HRs) after controlling for health and socio-demographic covariates.Results: Higher magnesium intake was associated with a reduced risk of developing MCI/MCD (MCI: HR 0.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01–0.56, p = 0.013; MCD: HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.22–0.99, p = 0.046) in multivariate analyses. Higher intake of potassium (MCI: HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01–1.17, p = 0.028; MCD: HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.99–1.10, p = 0.107) and iron (MCI: HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.03–2.29, p = 0.034) was associated with an increased risk of developing MCI/MCD.Conclusion: These findings suggest that dietary intake of minerals known to be implicated in biological processes associated with vascular and Alzheimer’s pathology may contribute to disease progression earlier in the disease process and require further attention.
Highlights
Worldwide dementia prevalence is projected to increase substantially in the coming decades
Higher magnesium intake was associated with a reduced risk of developing MCI/mild cognitive disorders (MCD) (MCI: hazard ratios (HRs) 0.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01–0.56, p = 0.013; MCD: HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.22–0.99, p = 0.046) in multivariate analyses
Higher intake of potassium (MCI: HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01–1.17, p = 0.028; MCD: HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.99–1.10, p = 0.107) and iron (MCI: HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.03–2.29, p = 0.034) was associated with an increased risk of developing MCI/MCD
Summary
Worldwide dementia prevalence is projected to increase substantially in the coming decades. Emerging evidence suggests that some dietary minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium) are associated with lower dementia risk. In a study of more than 1000 older individuals with a 17-year follow-up Ozawa et al (2012) showed that higher intake of calcium, magnesium, and potassium was associated with a lower risk of developing all-cause dementia, vascular dementia. Individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have been shown to have lower plasma magnesium levels (Barbagallo et al, 2011). Together, this evidence suggests a consistent link between intake of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and future risk of cognitive decline. Higher dietary intake of potassium, calcium, and magnesium is protective against ischemic strokes while being associated with a decreased risk of all-cause dementia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether dietary intake of these minerals was associated with increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI, amnestic) and other mild cognitive disorders (MCD)
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