HYDERABAD, INDIA: A community-based study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia has reported an association between micronutrient deficiencies and a higher predicted risk of dementia among middle-aged and older Indian adults.

The research was conducted by the National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), Hyderabad, in collaboration with the Stanford Centre for Innovation in Global Health (USA) and the Karolinska Institute (Sweden).

Key Findings

• High-Risk Prevalence: Nearly 40% of the 570 participants, aged 40–80 years, were classified as having a higher predicted risk of dementia.
• Nutritional Status: Participants in the high-risk group showed poorer nutritional status, including deficiencies in Vitamins D, B2, B6, and B12.
• Dietary Patterns: Researchers observed that higher dementia-risk profiles were associated with lower dietary diversity, reduced intake of unsaturated fats, and higher consumption of saturated fats.
• Rural-Urban Differences: Vitamin deficiencies were reported more frequently among rural participants than among urban participants.
• Potential Protective Factors: Diets containing a greater variety of nutrient-rich foods, including fruits and vegetables, were associated with lower dementia-risk profiles.

Methodology

Researchers used a culturally adapted version of the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) score to assess dementia risk among participants from both rural and urban areas of Telangana.

Dr. G. Bhanuprakash Reddy, Lead Investigator at ICMR-NIN, stated:

“Our findings highlight that micronutrient status is closely linked with the burden of dementia risk factors among Indian adults. Nutrition represents a modifiable factor that can be targeted through public health interventions.”

Public Health Significance

According to the researchers, the findings suggest that improving dietary diversity and addressing vitamin deficiencies could form part of broader public health strategies aimed at reducing dementia risk and promoting healthy ageing among India’s growing elderly population.

The authors noted that further research is needed to better understand the long-term relationship between nutrition and cognitive health.