Author Identifier
Nicola P. Bondonno: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5905-444X
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
JAMA Network Open
Volume
7
Issue
9
First Page
e2434136
PubMed ID
39292460
Publisher
American Medical Association
School
Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute / School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
75765
Funders
The Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems / Science Foundation Ireland / UK Research and Innovation / Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs / Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland
Abstract
Importance: A composite score of flavonoid-rich foods (flavodiet) may provide a clear public health message regarding the range of foods with the potential to lower dementia risk. Objective: To examine associations of flavodiet score and intakes of flavonoid subclasses with dementia risk according to genetic risk and presence of depression and hypertension. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective, population-based cohort study included dietary data from adults aged 40 to 70 years in the UK Biobank, recruited between 2006 and 2010, with a mean (SD) follow-up of 9.2 (1.5) years. The data analyses were conducted from September 1 to 30, 2023. Exposure: Flavodiet score adherence and intake of flavonoid subclasses derived from 24-hour computerized dietary assessments. Main Outcome and Measures: The main outcome was incident all-cause dementia and interactions with genetic risk, hypertension, and depressive symptoms using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results: The sample included 121 986 participants (mean [SD] age, 56.1 [7.8] years; 55.6% female; 882 with incident dementia). Comparing the highest with lowest quintile of flavodiet score, consuming 6 additional servings per day of flavonoid-rich foods was associated with a lower risk of dementia among all participants (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.72; 95% CI, 0.57-0.89), those at high genetic risk (AHR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.42-0.78), and those with depressive symptoms (AHR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33-0.81) after multivariable adjustment. The greatest risk reduction was observed in participants consuming at least 2 of the following per day: 5 servings of tea, 1 serving of red wine, and 0.5 servings of berries, compared with those who did not achieve any of these intakes (AHR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.46-0.84). Higher intakes of flavonoid subclasses, including anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, and flavones, of which tea, red wine, and berries are the main contributors, supported these findings, showing inverse associations with dementia risk. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, high adherence to a flavonoid-rich diet score was associated with a lower risk of dementia, with reductions more pronounced in individuals with a high genetic risk, hypertension, and depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that simple dietary changes of increasing intakes of commonly consumed flavonoid-rich foods and drinks may lower dementia risk.
DOI
10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.34136
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Jennings, A., Thompson, A. S., Tresserra-Rimbau, A., O’Neill, J. K., Hill, C., Bondonno, N. P., ... & Cassidy, A. (2024). Flavonoid-rich foods, dementia risk, and interactions with genetic risk, hypertension, and depression. JAMA Network Open, 7(9). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.34136