Link between Nutrition Status and cognitive functioning among the elderly in Taiwan

Older people are vulnerable to malnutrition, which is one of the important risk factor leading to deterioration of health as people age. Moreover, a number of studies have shown that nutrition status is not only associated with older people’s physical health, but also has impacts on their cognitive functioning. In this study, a comprehensive measure of nutrition status was used to predict the cognitive functioning of a representative sample of elders 4 and 8 years later. 

Data were from a longitudinal survey of the Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan. In the fourth (1999) waves of survey, the Mini Nutrition Assessment (MNA)
Questionnaire was included to evaluate survey participants’ nutrition status. We used this MNA score to predict participants’ cognitive functioning (measured by using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire) in 2003 (N=3068) and in 2007 (N=2,271), while controlling for their baseline cognitive functioning and other covariates such as age, sex, and physical health etc.

Results showed that elders with a lower MNA score in1999, indicating a poorer nutritional status, was more likely to suffer a cognitive impairment (OR=1.51, p<0.05) in 2003, after controlling for the participants’ baseline cognitive status. The MNA score remained a significant predictor of the elders’ cognitive functioning over an 8-year period, while controlling for their baseline cognitive functioning. These results provided strong evidence that there is a link between nutrition status and cognitive functioning among the elderly in Taiwan.