Cognitive decline refers to the gradual decline in cognitive skills such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. It’s a natural part of aging, but it can also be caused by a variety of medical conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It can also be caused by style choices.
Dementia is a debilitating condition that affects a person’s memory, thinking and decision-making abilities, making it difficult to carry out daily activities. It is one of the leading causes of death and disability among older people worldwide. In China, which has the largest elderly population and one of the fastest aging populations, dementia poses significant economic, health and social challenges.
Because dementia is irreversible and effective treatments are limited, early prevention and detection of cognitive decline is critical. Studies have shown that certain lifestyle factors such as physical activity, diet, and sleep can affect cognitive function. However, the effects of dietary sodium and potassium on cognitive function are still poorly understood.
In a prospective study published in the KeAi journal global transition, a group of Chinese researchers investigated the effects of dietary sodium, potassium, sodium-to-potassium ratio, and salt on cognitive function in a group of older Chinese adults. were over 50 years of age. Results are based on cognitive tests and participants’ self-reports.
Associations of mean sodium, potassium, sodium/potassium, and salt intake with self-reported memory. Model 1 is adjusted for age, gender, place of residence, region of residence, education level, employment status, marital status, physical activity level, and smoking and drinking habits. Model 2 adjusts energy, carbohydrate, protein, and fat intakes based on Model 1 (with additional adjustments for potassium intake in the sodium model and sodium intake in the potassium model). Model 3 is BMI, sleep duration, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, and cognitive test scores at baseline based on model 2. Abbreviations: Q1-Q4, quartile 1-quartile 4. Or odds ratio. CI, confidence interval. BMI, body mass index. Orange squares indicate significant association (P < 0.05). Credit: Xiaona Na
The research team found that high sodium intake (>5593.2 mg/day) and high sodium-to-potassium ratio (>3.8/day) increased the risk of memory impairment in older adults. Conversely, higher potassium intake (> 1653.3 mg/day) was associated with higher cognitive scores. Mean cognitive test scores (13.44 at baseline, total score of 27.00) increased by approximately 1 point when 1000 mg of sodium per day was replaced with an equivalent intake of potassium.
In addition, based on previous studies, the researchers concluded that the effects of dietary sodium, sodium-to-potassium ratio, and potassium on cognitive function may be mediated by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CCVD). proved that there is Function is mediated by sleep.
Although China has been trying to limit salt and sodium in people’s diets for more than a decade, the population’s intake is still alarmingly high, below the levels recommended by many other countries and the World Health Organization for ages 50 to 79. Exceeds the maximum sodium intake of 1400 mg/day for people aged. year and 5 g/day salinity. This high salt intake is commonly accompanied by inadequate consumption of potassium (1499.0 mg/day in this study versus the Chinese recommended level of 3600 mg/day).
The results of this study also suggest that dietary sodium-to-potassium ratios are a better measure of how these elements affect cognitive function than looking at sodium or potassium levels separately. supports the findings of
Corresponding author Zhao Ai adds: Given our results and the nutritional status of the Chinese population, it will be important for future research to focus on determining the optimal ratio of sodium and potassium in the diet of older adults. Priority should be given to developing strategies to improve the sodium-to-potassium ratio in the diet of ”
Reference: “Dietary Sodium, Potassium, Sodium/Potassium, and Salt Associated with Objective and Subjective Cognitive Function in Older Chinese Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study,” Xiaona Na, Menglu Xi, Yiguo Zhou, Jiaqi Yang, Jian Zhang, Yuandi Xi, Yucheng Yang, Haibing Yang, and Ai Zhao, 3 November 2022, global transition.
DOI: 10.1016/j.glt.2022.10.002
This study was funded by the Sanming Project of Medicine.
