J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2023 Jul 22:glad175. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glad175. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The current study aims to examine association of dietary live microbes and non-dietary prebiotic/probiotic intake with cognitive function among older US adults, examining heterogeneity across demographic characteristics and diseases.

METHODS: Participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014 cycles were selected and administered three cognitive function tests: the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Word Learning subtest (CERAD W-L, including immediate [CERAD-IRT] and delayed [CERAD-DRT] memory), the Animal Fluency Test (AFT), and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Test-specific and global cognition z-score was created. Based on their estimated dietary live microbes intake, participants were categorized into three groups: low, medium, and high. Text mining was employed to identify non-dietary prebiotic/probiotic usage by examining the names and ingredients of dietary supplements or drugs.

RESULTS: Participants in the medium (including AFT) and high (including global cognition, AFT, DSST, and CERAD-IRT) dietary live microbes intake group had significantly higher z-score of cognitive function compared to those in the low intake group. Among participants with CVD history, non-dietary prebiotic intake was associated with higher z-score in global cognition and CERAD-DRT compared to those who did not consume prebiotic. Additionally, probiotic intake was linked to higher z-score in global cognition, AFT, and DSST, particularly in participants with diabetes mellitus or hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the intake of dietary live microbes and non-dietary probiotic/prebiotic was association with better cognitive function in older adults, particularly in specific disease states.

PMID:37480582 | DOI:10.1093/gerona/glad175