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Neuroscience/Nutrition and the Brain (Poster Session)

(P25-017-24) Association of Dietary Pro-Vitamin A and Non-Pro-Vitamin A Carotenoids With Cognitive Function and Cognitive Decline

Monday, July 1, 2024
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM CT
Location: Poster Board 470

    Presenting Author(s)

  • GH

    Gulisiya Hailili

    Zhejiang University School of Medicine, School of Public Health
    杭州, Zhejiang, China (People's Republic)

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Liyan Huang

    School of Public Health, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
    Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (People's Republic)

  • MW

    Minyu Wu, Ph.D.

    Postdoctoral fellow
    School of Public Health of Zhejiang University, China (People's Republic)

  • ZW

    Ziping Wang

    Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Department of Nutrition Hygiene and Toxicology, Academy of Nutrition and Health, School of Public Health, Medical College, Hubei, China (People's Republic)

  • SR

    Shuang Rong

    Wuhan University

  • CY

    Changzheng Yuan, ScD

    School of Public Health, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou

Objectives: Evidence regarding the associations of different types of carotenoids with cognitive function is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the relation of dietary intakes of pro-vitamin A and non-pro-vitamin A carotenoids to cognitive function and cognitive decline among middle-aged and elderly people.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study among US adults aged 50 years and older based on the Health and Retirement Study from 2014 to 2020. Average daily intakes of dietary pro-vitamin A carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin) and non-pro-vitamin A carotenoids (lutein-zeaxanthin and lycopene) were assessed by a 163-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Cognitive function was measured using a composite test score of global cognitive function (range 0-27) every 2 years. Beta coefficients (β) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by linear mixed-effects models to evaluate the associations of energy-adjusted carotenoids with cognitive function and its decline.

Results: Among 5933 participants (mean age of 66.2±9.7 years), the median daily intake of pro-vitamin A carotenoids and non-pro-vitamin A carotenoids were 3.2 mg/d (IQR, 2.0-5.2) and 6.0 mg/d (IQR, 4.2-8.6), respectively. After adjustment of sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle variables, and other dietary factors, we observed a significant associations between non-pro-vitamin A carotenoids and cognitive function. The corresponding mean difference in cognitive function score was 0.338 standard deviations comparing top to bottom tertile (median intake 12.8 mg/d v.s. 2.9 mg/d) of non-pro-vitamin A carotenoids. No significant associations with cognitive function and decline were observed for pro-vitamin A carotenoids.

Conclusions: The study demonstrated heterogeneous associations of different types of carotenoids with cognition, and suggested the potential beneficial roles of non-pro-vitamin A in maintaining better cognitive function.

Funding Sources: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 8210120183).