Eating patterns are associated with cognitive function in the elderly at risk of metabolic syndrome from rural areas.

OBJECTIVE: The Mediterranean di - et (MedDiet) represents a promising approach in the prevention of cognitive decline, but the evi - dence for such beneficial effect, especially among elderly populations in non-Mediterranean regions, is at present inconsistent.This study in - vestigated the relationship between adherence to MedDiet and cognitive function (CF), along with selected sociodemographic (SD) and clinical in - dices, in Polish elderly people > 60 years of age, with high risk of metabolic syndrome (MS), living in rural area. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Complete SD and lifestyle information was collected. The dietary outcome was recorded as a MedDiet score with the frequencies of consumption of the main food groups in the a MedDiet pyramid. Parameters identifying MS and body weight status were de - termined, and 11 psychological test results were examined in four domains: visual memory, exec - utive function, attention, and global cognition . RESULTS: The lower MedDiet score was more often connected with living without children and with CF impairment. The MedDiet score was linked with global cognition; frequency of con - sumption of vegetable, fish, olive and rapeseed oil with visual memory, attention, executive func - tion respectively .The consumption of full-fat dairy products and red meat and meat products was negatively related to executive and global CF. Al - so, insufficient physical activity, low educational status, female gender, living without children, and the existence of MS were factors of risk of CF im - pairment. CONCLUSIONS: Greater adherence to MedDi - et and frequency of consumption of some foods were associated with better scores in several CF tests in elderly individuals with high risk of MS living in a rural community. However, lifestyle, clinical, and SD factors should also be considered.