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Fish consumption, intake of fats and cognitive decline at middle and older age: the Doetinchem Cohort Study

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Abstract

Purpose

To get insight in the impact of fish and fat intake in the prevention of accelerated cognitive decline with ageing, we tested associations between fish and different fat intakes and 5-year change in cognitive functions.

Methods

In 2612 men and women of the Doetinchem Cohort Study, aged 43–70 years at baseline, dietary intake (including fish consumption) and cognitive function were assessed at baseline and at 5-year follow-up. Average fish consumption (frequency) and intakes (as energy percentages) of total fat, saturated, mono unsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), linoleic, docosahexaenoic, eicosapentaenoic, and a-linolenic acid (ALA), and cholesterol were averaged over baseline and follow-up. Intakes were studied in relation to 5-year change in global cognitive function, memory, information processing speed, and cognitive flexibility, using ANCOVA and multivariate linear regression analyses.

Results

No consistent association between (fatty) fish consumption and cognitive decline was observed. Higher cholesterol intake was associated with faster cognitive decline (p < 0.05). Higher n-3 PUFA (especially ALA) intake was associated with slower decline in global cognitive function and memory (p < 0.01). Intakes of other fatty acids were not associated with cognitive decline.

Conclusions

Higher cholesterol intake was detrimental, while higher ALA intake was beneficial for maintaining cognitive function with ageing, already at middle age.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported with a grant from the Internationale Stichting Alzheimer Onderzoek (ISAO, Grant No. 08551). The Doetinchem Cohort Study is financially supported by the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport of The Netherlands and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. The data up to and including 1997, including the dietary assessment method, were additionally financially supported by the Europe against Cancer programme of the European Commission (DG SANCO). Funders had no role with respect to methods and content of this study. There were no conflicts of interest. The authors thank the respondents and the epidemiologists and fieldworkers of the Municipal Health Service in Doetinchem for their contribution to the data collection for this study. Principal investigator is Prof WMM Verschuren. Logistic management was provided by J Steenbrink and P Vissink, and administrative support by EP van der Wolf. Data management was provided by A Blokstra, AWD van Kessel and PE Steinberger.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services (VPZ), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), PO Box 1, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    Astrid C. J. Nooyens, Boukje M. van Gelder, H. Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita & W. M. Monique Verschuren

  2. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMCU), Utrecht, The Netherlands

    H. Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita

  3. The School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK

    H. Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita

  4. Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Martin P. J. van Boxtel

  5. Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMCU), Utrecht, The Netherlands

    W. M. Monique Verschuren

Authors
  1. Astrid C. J. Nooyens
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  2. Boukje M. van Gelder
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  3. H. Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita
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  4. Martin P. J. van Boxtel
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  5. W. M. Monique Verschuren
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Astrid C. J. Nooyens.

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Ethical standards

Examination rounds of the Doetinchem Cohort Study have been completed in compliance with the Helsinki Declaration and approved by an external Medical Ethics Committee (TNO). Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Nooyens, A.C.J., van Gelder, B.M., Bueno-de-Mesquita, H.B. et al. Fish consumption, intake of fats and cognitive decline at middle and older age: the Doetinchem Cohort Study. Eur J Nutr 57, 1667–1675 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1453-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-017-1453-8

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