The protective role of a Mediterranean-like diet on the cognitive function of elderly women exposed to long-term air pollution.

Wischniowski, K. (Katharina) (2016) The protective role of a Mediterranean-like diet on the cognitive function of elderly women exposed to long-term air pollution. thesis, Medicine.

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Abstract

Background: Air pollution is an important public health issue and has been linked to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), whereas a Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) has shown to positively influence some parts of cognitive function. Aim: This study investigated the association between a Mediterranean-like diet and cognitive function and its protective role in older women exposed to long-term traffic-related air pollution. Methodology: This thesis is based on the prospective cohort study SALIA (Study on the influence of Air pollution on Lung function, Inflammation and Aging) which was initiated in 1985 and followed healthy 54-55 year old women of the general population in Germany. Air pollution exposure of the participants was estimated by air pollutant measurements in 2008-2010 and the baseline-air-pollution exposure (1985) has been back-calculated as in the ESCAPE study. During the follow up (2008/2009) dietary habits of the participants have been assessed through a food questionnaire and various cognitive domains have been examined through the CERAD-test-battery. A Mediterranean-Diet-Score has been constructed based on Panagiotakos’ score. Linear regression analyses have been performed to estimate the association between the MeDi-Score and cognition measured by the CERAD-subtests. Interaction effects of MeDi on the association between air pollution and the cognitive domain “constructional praxis” have been calculated by linear regression. Results: There was a small protective effect of MeDi on executive function. Women with a low MeDi-Score were more susceptible for an air-pollution-induced decrease in cognitive function, however, this interaction was not significant. Air pollution exposure at baseline showed a negative association with cognitive outcome years after exposure. Conclusion: Historic exposure to air pollution may have long-term negative effects on cognition. Mediterranean Diet showed a positive influence on cognitive outcome. There was no evidence that a MeDi attenuates air-pollution induced mild cognitive impairment, although there were indications that there might be some protective effects

Item Type:	Thesis (Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Faculty Supervisor: and Smidt, Dr. Nynke University Medical Center Groningen
Supervisor name:	Schikowski, Dr. Tamara IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for En
Faculty:	Medical Sciences
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2020 10:54
Last Modified:	25 Jun 2020 10:54
URI:	https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1516

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