Influence of vegetarian vs. non-vegetarian diet on cognition using CVLT

Study Objective: To detect differential patterns in cognitive decline among a vegetarian versus non-vegetarian population.

Background: Cognitive decline has personal, economic and healthcare repercussions. A large body of studies have shown a significant role of nutrition in cognitive decline. Participants in the first Adventist Health Study-1 (AHS-1), which include 34,192 members of 437 Seventh-day Adventist churches living in California, have shown that eating nuts and drinking more than 5 glasses of water reduces the risk of heart attack and disease by 50%. Being that this is a uniquely homogeneous group, in which the majority are non-consumers of alcohol, non-smokers, vegetarian, and are very responsive, we would like to study this population further regarding nutrition and cognition.

Methods: A cohort of 500 subjects were randomly selected from the AHS-1 to assess the relationship between mean caloric intake and mean Mini-Mental State Examination scores. Each participant was asked to complete a comprehensive food frequency questionnaire as well as the California Verbal Learning Test (CLVT). Furthermore, comprehensive laboratory, as well as biophysical testing was done on all patients.

Results: A multiple-regression analysis is being conducted to evaluate the CVLT data. We expect to see a significant difference in cognitive profile, as demonstrated by CVLT, in vegetarian vs. Non-vegetarian subjects.

Conclusion: Results will characterize specific nutrients that affect cognition, and thus contribute further to the current knowledge of evidence in the identification and management of cognitive decline.