Summary: New research shows that women who followed the DASH diet in midlife—designed to lower blood pressure—were about 17% less likely to report memory problems and other subjective signs of cognitive decline decades later.
This finding matters for public health because women account for more than two-thirds of Alzheimer’s disease cases. As Alzheimer’s prevalence among older Americans is expected to rise substantially by 2060, identifying midlife lifestyle measures that reduce later-life cognitive complaints is increasingly important.
Researchers highlighted a clear association between stronger adherence to the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet in midlife and fewer self-reported cognitive difficulties in older age.
Key Facts:
- The DASH diet emphasizes plant-based foods rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium, while limiting saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugars—nutritional choices that help control blood pressure, a known risk factor for cognitive decline.
- The long-term analysis included data from 5,116 women enrolled in the NYU Women’s Health Study; women with the highest DASH adherence had a 17% lower odds of reporting multiple cognitive complaints in late life compared with those with the lowest adherence.
- About 6.5 million Americans age 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s disease in 2022, and that number is projected to more than double by 2060, underscoring the urgency of preventive strategies.
Source: NYU Langone
Women who adopted a blood-pressure-lowering diet in midlife were roughly 17% less likely to report memory loss and related cognitive complaints decades later, according to a new NYU study.
Led by investigators at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the analysis indicates that adopting the DASH diet during midlife may help protect cognitive health later in life. The study focused on women, who represent the majority of Alzheimer’s diagnoses and who face a growing lifetime risk of dementia.
Published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the study’s findings have relevance to the approximately 6.5 million Americans age 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s in 2022, a figure expected to rise substantially by 2060.
“Subjective complaints about everyday cognition—such as trouble remembering recent events or following conversations—can be early indicators of more serious neurocognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s,” said Yu Chen, PhD, MPH, professor in the Department of Population Health and the study’s senior author. “With more than 30 years of follow-up, we found that stronger adherence to a DASH-style diet in midlife was associated with fewer reported cognitive issues later on.”
The DASH dietary pattern prioritizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy while limiting processed foods, saturated fats, and excessive sodium and sugars. Controlling blood pressure through diet is one mechanism by which DASH may reduce risk for later cognitive decline.
How the Study Was Conducted
Researchers analyzed data from 5,116 women who were part of the NYU Women’s Health Study, a long-running cohort that examines lifestyle factors and chronic disease risk. Dietary intake was assessed by questionnaires administered between 1985 and 1991, when participants’ average age was approximately 49.
Participants were followed for more than 30 years; follow-up cognitive assessments occurred between 2018 and 2020 when the average age was about 79. Cognitive complaints were captured using a validated six-item questionnaire addressing difficulties such as remembering recent events, recalling shopping lists, understanding spoken instructions or group conversations, and navigating familiar routes. When questionnaires were not returned, participants were contacted by phone to collect responses.
Overall, one-third of women reported more than one cognitive complaint. After adjusting for potential confounders and selection bias, women with the highest DASH diet scores at baseline had a 17% lower odds of reporting multiple cognitive complaints compared with women in the lowest DASH score quartile.
“These results suggest that beginning a heart-healthy, DASH-style diet in midlife could be an actionable strategy to help maintain cognitive health into older age,” said Yixiao Song, a lead author of the study. “DASH may protect both cardiovascular health and brain health,” added Fen Wu, PhD, senior associate research scientist and co-leader of the project.
The authors note that further research is needed to confirm these findings across diverse racial and ethnic groups and to investigate mechanisms linking DASH adherence with late-life cognitive outcomes.
Funding: Supported by the National Institutes of Health, grant U01 CA182934.
Additional contributors from NYU Grossman School of Medicine include Sneha Sharma, Tess V. Clendenen, Sandra India-Aldana, PhD, MPH, Yelena Afanasyeva, MS, Karen L. Koenig, PhD, Anne Zeleniuch-Jacquotte, PhD; and Yian Gu, MD, PhD, Columbia University.
About this diet and cognition research news
Author: Sasha Walek
Source: NYU Langone
Contact: Sasha Walek – NYU Langone
Image: Image credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access. “Mid-life adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and late-life subjective cognitive complaints in women” by Yu Chen et al., Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
Abstract
Mid-life adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and late-life subjective cognitive complaints in women
INTRODUCTION
Evidence is limited on the role of midlife adherence to the DASH diet in relation to late-life subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs).
METHODS
We included 5,116 women (mean age at baseline in 1985–1991: 46 years) from the New York University Women’s Health Study. SCCs were assessed from 2018 to 2020 (mean age: 79 years) using a six-item questionnaire.
RESULTS
Compared to women in the bottom quartile of DASH scores, the odds ratio (OR) for having two or more SCCs was 0.83 (95% confidence interval: 0.70–0.99) for women in the top DASH quartile at baseline (P for trend = 0.019). Results were consistent after multiple imputation and inverse probability weighting to address potential selection bias. The inverse association was stronger among women without a history of cancer (P for interaction = 0.003).
DISCUSSION
Greater adherence to the DASH diet in midlife was associated with a lower prevalence of late-life subjective cognitive complaints in women, suggesting that dietary choices in midlife may play a role in preserving cognitive health with aging.