Staple Foods Intake Linked to Mild Cognitive Impairment in China

Dementia is a growing global health burden, with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) serving as a critical transitional stage. Identifying nutritional risk factors is crucial for prevention. While nutrition significantly impacts age-related disease prevention, research on the effects of specific staple food types on MCI remains limited, primarily focusing on whole-grain consumption.

This study utilized data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) to examine how different staple food types and their intakes relate to MCI among the elderly in China. It also explored the mediating effects of Platelet Volume (PLT) and Platelet Distribution Width (PDW) on these relationships.

A total of 21,283 participants aged 65 or older were included. Analysis revealed that wheat was associated with an 18.7% higher incidence of MCI compared to rice (HR: 1.187; 95% CI: 1.057–1.333). Throughout a median follow-up of three years, 4,898 cases of MCI emerged. Higher wheat intake was linked to a 7.1% increase in the risk of MCI per standard deviation (HR: 1.071; 95% CI: 1.009–1.138). Further subgroup analyses indicated that men and elderly participants aged 90 and older showed even greater associations.

The results suggest a potential public health recommendation for elderly individuals to primarily consume rice rather than wheat to reduce the risk of MCI. Given the partial mediating role of PLT and PDW, these findings support the need for dietary interventions to enhance cognitive health in aging populations. However, limitations such as reliance on self-reported dietary data and the specific population studied necessitate cautious interpretation.

Original citation address: https://www.besjournal.com/en/article/doi/10.3967/bes2026.021