Association of MIND diet with cognitive decline among Black and White older adults

INTRODUCTION: We examined the Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet's association with cognitive decline by race among older adults in the Chicago Health and Aging Project. METHODS: Five thousand two hundred fifty-nine participants (73.5 ± 6.0 years, 62% Black participants, 62% female) completed a food frequency questionnaire, and two or more cognitive assessments over 7.8 ± 4.6 years. RESULTS: Overall, higher MIND diet was associated with slower cognitive decline (p for trend = 0.0025). The MIND score (range:0-15) was different between Black and White older adults(6.97 vs. 7.12, p = 0.010). Compared to the lowest tertile, among White participants, the two highest tertiles (MIND score -7: β = 0.0121 95% confidence interval [CI: 0.0006, 0.0237]; MIND score -8.5: β = 0.0146 95% CI: 0.0003, 0.0260) and among Black participants, only the highest tertile (MIND score -8.5: β = 0.0088 95% CI: 0.0003, 0.0172) had association with cognitive decline. Vascular and lifestyle factors attenuated the association only for Black older adults. DISCUSSION: The MIND diet was associated with slower cognitive decline in Black and White older adults, but this may vary with other lifestyle and vascular factors. Further research is warranted on race-specific cultural diets considering other risk factors for cognitive decline. HIGHLIGHTS: The intake of Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet components varies by race. The MIND diet may slow cognitive decline in both Black and White older adults. This association may vary with other lifestyle and vascular risk factors.