Abstract
Adults (132) aged 75-96 years were enrolled in this prospective, exploratory six-month longitudinal study testing the hypotheses: 1) that there would be cognitive function decline over time (3 mo and 6 mo) and within age subgroups and 2) that nutritional status indicators would predict the cognitive decline.Serum concentration of albumin, cholesterol, and hemoglobin; along with total lymphocyte count; fat reserves and somatic protein as estimated from anthropometry; physical signs of malnutrition; and a composite of nutritional status indicators of risk, including the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA), were used to determine nutritional status. Cognitive function was measured using the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT). Where decline was significant (p = <0.05), logistic regression was used to determine nutritional parameters predictive of the decline (p = <0. 10; sensitivity >40%; specificityThe total group showed an increase in learning interference that was predicted by low fat reserves. This was also true for the 75 year age group up to and including the 82.4 year age group. Additionally, this group showed a decrease in discriminatory response predicted by low albumin, low cholesterol, and low MNA scores. In the over 82.4 year age group increased learning interference was predicted by high fat reserves and high cholesterol.This study encourages greater exploration of the relationship between nutrition indicators and cognitive function in the older adult with the goal of using the indicators not only as predictors, but to develop therapies to delay cognitive decline.
Published Version
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