MIND diet consumption pattern in a cohort of cognitively healthy Mexican older adults. LatAm FINGERS Mexico

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundMIND diet is a hybrid diet designed from Mediterranean and DASH which emphasizes natural, plant‐based foods, promoting increased consumption of foods have been shown a positive impact on brain health and cognitive performance. Thus, understanding the food consumption habits is important.MethodWe analyzed elders cognitively healthy who were administered POINTER food habits questionnaire that evaluates the intake of 10 recommended foods and 5 limited foods from the MIND diet at basal evaluation. MIND score is 1 if the participant consumes the recommended portions, 0.5 if the intake is moderate, and zero if the intake is less than or equal to the recommendations. It was considered a good intake of MIND diet if the total score was ≥8 points. Descriptive analyses of both sociodemographic variables and food intake were performed.ResultAnalyzed 66 older adults between 60 and 77 years of age (mean 70 SD 5.14), 70% are women, with a mean of 9.9 years schooling (SD 3.9). 72% of the subjects evaluated did not meet the recommended MIND food intake (score ≤ 8). Among the recommended foods, the subjects ingested little or no olive oil, green leafy vegetables, red fruits, fish, and other vegetables, but they ingested large amounts of foods that should be limited, such as fried foods, pastries and sweets, cheese, fats, and margarines (table 1).ConclusionThe recommended foods that the participants do not ingest in adequate quantities are those of high cost in our country (olive oil, red fruits, and fish), but the sample have a high intake of fast food and processed foods, some ones that should limit. Our sample consume adequately foods that are easily accessible and common in our country (legumes, poultry, red meat). It is necessary to make adaptations of the MIND diet according to access and regional characteristics, this could facilitate its adherence.