A recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) has established a significant link between poor micronutrient status and a higher predicted risk of dementia among Indian adults. The findings underscore the critical role of nutrition in preventing cognitive decline and promoting healthy ageing.
Study Published in The Lancet Regional Health
Published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, the research arrives at a time when India's older adult population is expanding due to increased life expectancy. This demographic shift is intensifying the burden of age-related non-communicable diseases, including dementia. Low- and middle-income countries like India account for nearly 60% of the global dementia burden.
Modifiable Risk Factors and Nutrition
While genetic factors contribute to dementia, nearly 50% of cases are linked to modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, depression, and social isolation. Nutrition, particularly micronutrient adequacy, is increasingly recognized as a crucial determinant of brain health.
Study Details: 570 Adults from Rural and Urban Telangana
This community-based cross-sectional study included 570 middle-aged and older adults, aged 40 to 80 years, from rural and urban settings in Telangana. Researchers employed a culturally adapted dementia risk assessment tool by modifying the widely used Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Ageing and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) score and evaluated its relationship with micronutrient profiles. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool, while blood vitamin concentrations were measured via advanced analytical techniques. Dietary intake and dietary diversity were also evaluated.
Key Findings
The study revealed that nearly 40% of participants were classified as having a higher predicted risk of dementia. Individuals in the higher-risk group exhibited poorer nutritional status, with deficiencies of vitamins D, B2, B6, and B12 more prevalent among those with higher dementia risk scores. The higher-risk group also showed lower dietary diversity, higher consumption of saturated fats, and lower intake of unsaturated fats. Vitamin deficiencies were more common among rural participants than urban participants, highlighting rural-specific vulnerabilities that may contribute to increased dementia risk. The findings further suggest that diets rich in micronutrients, particularly fruits and vegetables, are associated with a lower burden of dementia risk factors.
Expert Insights on Nutrition as Prevention
Dr. G Bhanuprakash Reddy, Scientist G at ICMR-NIN and lead investigator, stated, “As India’s ageing population continues to expand, the number of people living with dementia is expected to rise substantially by 2050. Our findings highlight that micronutrient status is closely linked with the burden of dementia risk factors among Indian adults. Although the cross-sectional design of this study restricts the ability to draw causal inferences, it emphasizes that nutrition, particularly micronutrient adequacy and dietary diversity, represents a modifiable factor that can be targeted through public health interventions.”
Dr. Bharati Kulkarni, Director of ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, added, “Given that effective disease-modifying therapies for dementia remain limited, prevention through early identification of risk factors and timely intervention becomes increasingly important. This study provides important evidence that nutritional factors, especially micronutrient status, should be integrated into dementia prevention strategies in the future.”
The study was conducted in collaboration with investigators from Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health, USA, and Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
