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Very few data are available regarding the association of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) with Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) evolution over time. A cohort of 939 cognitively normal individuals reporting self-experienced, persistent cognitive decline not attributed to neurological, psychiatric or medical disorders from the Hellenic Epidemiological Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD study) was followed-up for a mean period of 3·10 years. We defined our SCD score as the number of reported SCD domains (memory, language, visuoperceptual and executive), ranging from 0 to 4. Dietary intake at baseline was assessed through a food frequency questionnaire; adherence to the MeDi pattern was evaluated through the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) that ranged from 0 to 55, with higher values indicating greater adherence to the MeDi. The mean SCD score in our cohort increased by 0·20 cognitive domains during follow-up. After adjustment for multiple potential confounders, we showed that an MDS higher by 10 points was associated with a 7% reduction in the progression of SCD within one year. In terms of food groups, every additional vegetable serving consumption per day was associated with a 2·2% reduction in SCD progression per year. Our results provide support to the notion that MeDi may have a protective role against the whole continuum of cognitive decline, starting at the first subjective complaints. This finding may strengthen the role of the MeDi as a population-wide, cost-effective preventive strategy targeting the modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline.

IntroductionLife expectancy has increased leading to a concomitant increase in the population of older people. Malnutrition, a major problem in this age group, deteriorates their health and quality of life. The association between risk of malnutrition and dietary intake has not been investigated sufficiently. The aim of this study was to examine potential associations between risk of malnutrition and dietary intake in a representative cohort of adults ≥ 65 years old.Materials and methods1,831 older people (mean age 73.1 ± 5.9 years old) from the HELIAD study were included in the analyses. Risk of malnutrition was assessed with the “Determine your Nutritional Health” checklist. Total score of the questionnaire ranges from 1–21, with 0–2 indicating good nutritional status, 3–5 moderate nutritional risk and ≥ 6 high nutritional risk. Dietary intake was evaluated with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, validated for the Greek population, from which consumption of specific food groups (non-refined cereals, fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, red meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, alcohol and sweets in servings/day) was estimated, as well as adherence to the Mediterranean diet, using a relevant a priori score.Results35.8% of the participants were well-nourished, 34.8% were at moderate nutritional risk and 29.4% were at high nutritional risk. Total energy intake did not differ between the groups (1,984 ± 500 kcal/day for those well-nourished, 1,995 ± 537 kcal/day for those at moderate nutritional risk and 1,934 ± 566 kcal/day for those at high nutritional risk, p = 0.140). Well-nourished older people consumed per day more portions of vegetables, fruits, legumes, poultry, sweets and fewer portions of alcohol compared to those at moderate and high risk (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, adherence to the Mediterranean diet differed significantly between the groups, i.e. those well-nourished had greater adherence to the Mediterranean Diet compared to the other groups (p < 0.001).DiscussionAlthough energy intake did not differ between the groups, there were significant differences in quality of their diet, as this was depicted in specific food group intake and adherence to a healthy dietary pattern. Thus, health experts should also consider diet quality when screening malnutrition in this vulnerable age group.

Background:The prevalence and associated factors related to psychotic symptoms in older adults are understudied. The objectives were to assess the prevalence, incidence and factors associated with psychotic symptoms in a representative Greek sample of community living older adults.Methods:This study includes older adults aged ≥ 65 years participating in the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet. The analysis is based on n=1,904 participants with available data at baseline and n=947 participants at the 3-year follow-up. The presence of delusions and hallucinations in the past month was assessed on the grounds of the 17 symptoms of the Columbia University Scale for Psychopathology in Alzheimer's Disease and of the 14 symptoms of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire. An affirmative answer to any of these 31 symptoms defined the presence of psychotic symptoms. A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment for probable diagnosis of dementia and physical comorbidity was carried out by neurologists. Study factors included age, education, marital status, widowed in the past year, occupation, hearing impairment and number of chronic comorbidities. Penalized logistic regression analyses were carried out to assess the socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with the prevalence and incidence of psychotic symptoms.Results:The past-month prevalence of any psychotic symptom was 1.9% and 1.0% when excluding cases of dementia. The prevalence of any delusion and hallucination was 1.5% and 0.7%, and 0.8% and 0.3% when excluding cases with dementia. Paranoid delusions were the most prevalent. The incidence at the follow-up of any psychotic symptom was 2.1% and 1.3% when excluding dementia. Individuals not married had twice the odds and, farmers/breeders had three times the odds than public servants/teachers/executives of experiencing psychotic symptoms. Hearing impairment and the number of comorbidities increased the odds of the presence of psychotic symptoms. In addition to age and recent widowhood, these factors remained significantly associated with the presence of psychotic symptoms in cases without dementia.Conclusion:Dementia was not related to over half of the cases observed with psychotic symptoms. Paranoid delusions were the most prevalent. Socio-economic and health status factors are significant predictors of psychotic symptoms.