2023-01-17 ペンシルベニア州立大学(PennState)
◆しかし、SNAPが高齢者の脳の老化にどのような影響を与えるかについては、ほとんど証拠がありません。この知識のギャップを埋めるため、ペンシルベニア州立大学栄養科学科のムジ・ナ助教授は、研究チームを率いて、食料不安、SNAP、認知機能低下の関係を調査しました。その結果、食糧不足とSNAPへの参加が、高齢者の加速する認知機能低下から身を守るのに役立つ可能性があることがわかりました。
◆The Journal of Nutritionに掲載された新しい論文で、研究者らは、National Health and Aging Trends Study, 2012-20のデータを用いて、米国の高齢者4,578人の代表サンプルを分析しました。参加者は食料不安の経験を報告し、食料十分と食料不足に分類された。SNAPの状況は、SNAP参加者、SNAP資格のない非参加者、SNAP資格のない非参加者と定義した。研究者らは、食料不安のある成人は、食料が確保されている成人と比較して、より急速に認知機能が低下することを発見した。
◆研究者らは、食料不足の状態またはSNAPの状態を用いて、認知機能低下の異なる軌跡を確認した。認知機能の低下率は、SNAP参加者とSNAP非参加者で同程度であり、いずれもSNAP非参加者より緩やかであった。食料不安群で観察されたより大きな認知機能低下率は、3.8歳高齢であることに相当し、一方、SNAP無資格者群で観察されたより大きな認知機能低下率は、4.5歳高齢であることに相当しました。
<関連情報>
- https://www.psu.edu/news/health-and-human-development/story/food-insecurity-may-increase-cognitive-decline-older-adults/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622132578
高齢者における食料不足、補足栄養補助プログラム(SNAP)の状況、および認知機能の9年間の軌跡。全国健康・老化動向縦断調査、2012-2020年。 Food Insufficiency, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Status, and 9-Year Trajectory of Cognitive Function in Older Adults: The Longitudinal National Health and Aging Trends Study, 2012–2020
Muzi Na, Nan Dou, Monique J. Brown, Lenis P. Chen-Edinboro, Loretta R. Anderson, Alexandra Wennberg
The Journal of Nutrition Available online: 27 December 2022
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2022.12.012
Abstract
Background
Despite findings from cross-sectional studies, how food insecurity experience/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) status relates to cognitive decline over time has not been fully understood.
Objectives
We aimed to investigate the longitudinal associations between food insecurity/SNAP status and cognitive function in older adults (≥65 y).
Methods
Longitudinal data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study 2012–2020 were analyzed (n = 4578, median follow-up years = 5 y). Participants reported food insecurity experience (5-item) and were classified as food sufficient (FS, no affirmative answer) and food insufficient (FI, any affirmative answer). The SNAP status was defined as SNAP participants, SNAP eligible nonparticipants (≤200% Federal Poverty Line, FPL), and SNAP ineligible nonparticipants (>200% FPL). Cognitive function was measured via validated tests in 3 domains, and the standardized domain-specific and combined cognitive function z-scores were calculated. Mixed-effect models with a random intercept were used to study how FI or SNAP status was associated with combined and domain-specific cognitive z-scores over time, adjusting for static and time-varying covariates.
Results
At baseline, 96.3% of the participants were FS and 3.7% were FI. In a subsample (n = 2832), 10.8% were SNAP participants, 30.7% were SNAP eligible nonparticipants, and 58.6% were SNAP ineligible nonparticipants. Compared with the FS group in the adjusted model (FI vs. FS), FI was associated with faster decline in the combined cognitive function scores [-0.043 (-0.055, -0.032) vs. -0.033 (-0.035, -0.031) z-scores per year, P-interaction = 0.064]. Cognitive decline rates (z-scores per year) in the combined score were similar in SNAP participants (β = -0.030; 95% CI: -0.038, -0.022) and SNAP ineligible nonparticipants (β = -0.028; 95% CI: -0.032, -0.024), both of which were slower than the rate in SNAP eligible nonparticipants (β = -0.043; 95% CI: -0.048, -0.038; P-interaction < 0.0001).
Conclusions
Food sufficiency and SNAP participation may be protective factors preventing accelerated cognitive decline in older adults.
