Dietary patterns and β‐amyloid deposition in aging Australian women

Introduction Evidence indicates that associations between diet and Alzheimer's disease may occur through biomarker pathways such as amyloid‐β (Aβ); however, few studies have investigated dietary/Aβ relationships, and no study has investigated this relationship in women. Methods Dietary patterns were extrapolated for 115 participants from the Women's Health Aging Project. Aβ deposition was measured via in vivo F‐18 florbetaben positron emission tomography scanning. Results Participants were, on average, aged 70 years (±2.63 SD), had 13 years of education (±3.57 SD), a BMI of 28 kg/m 2 (±5.46 SD), and a daily energy intake of 5161 kJ (±1679.03 SD). Four dietary patterns were identified: high fat, Mediterranean, junk food, and low fat. Adherence to the junk food diet was a significant predictor of Aβ deposition (β = .10, P = .03). Discussion This study highlights the potential of diet to influence neurodegenerative disease and as a potential modifiable lifestyle risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.