Mediterranean-DASH intervention for neurodegenerative delay diet adherence, physical activity, and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults

Background Evidence on the associations between the Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet adherence, physical activity (PA), and cognitive function in Chinese older adults is limited. This study aimed to examine these associations and their potential interactions among community-dwelling older adults in Henan Province, China. Methods Participants were recruited from 17 districts/counties in Henan Province, China, using the multistage stratified probability-proportional-to-size (PPS) sampling method. MIND diet adherence was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and PA was assessed based on self-reported exercise frequency and duration. Cognitive function was measured using the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Weighted generalized linear models (GLMs) were used to examine the associations between MIND diet adherence, PA, and their potential interaction and MMSE scores. Results Higher MIND diet scores were significantly associated with higher MMSE scores ( β = 0.259, 95% CI : 0.154–0.364, p < 0.001), whereas PA showed no significant independent association ( β = 0.016, 95% CI : −0.017 to 0.049, p = 0.335). No significant interaction was observed between MIND diet adherence and PA regarding global cognitive function ( β = −0.005, 95% CI : −0.013 to 0.002, p = 0.152). Domain-specific analyses showed significant associations between MIND diet scores and registration, attention and calculation, and recall (all β > 0, all p < 0.05). However, no significant interaction between MIND diet adherence and PA was observed for any domain (all p > 0.05). Conclusion Higher adherence to the MIND diet was independently associated with better cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults in central China. These findings suggest that adherence to the MIND diet may be a practical strategy for promoting cognitive health in aging populations.