In a significant study involving 105,015 participants, researchers examined the impact of dietary patterns on healthy aging. Out of this total, 70,091 were women from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and 34,924 were men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS). After a follow-up period of up to 30 years, a total of 9,771 participants, equating to 9.3%, achieved the status of healthy aging. Notably, 7,602 women (or 10.8%) from the NHS and 2,169 men (or 6.2%) from the HPFS reached this milestone.
The pooled cohorts revealed that 39,769 participants (or 37.9%) reached the age of 70 years. Moreover, 23,908 participants (approximately 22.8%) remained free from 11 chronic diseases, while 35,555 (around 33.9%) maintained intact cognitive function. Additionally, 29,543 (or 28.1%) preserved their physical function, and 27,842 (about 26.5%) sustained their mental health.
Participants who scored in the highest quintile of the energy-adjusted dietary pattern score were more likely to have a higher socioeconomic status (SES), regularly use multivitamins, engage in higher levels of physical activity, and exhibit a slightly lower body mass index (BMI). Furthermore, individuals in this top quintile were less likely to have a history of depression compared to those in the lowest quintile.
Interestingly, those in the highest quintile for dietary patterns such as the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), MIND, healthy Plant-based Diet Index (hPDI), Plant-based Diet Index (PHDI), and the reverse Energy Density Index (rEDIH) and Energy Density Index for Plant foods (rEDIP) consumed more alcohol. Conversely, participants in the highest quintile for DASH and aMED diets exhibited lower alcohol consumption.
The study found that adherence to various dietary patterns was significantly associated with greater odds of healthy aging. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) comparing the highest quintile to the lowest ranged from 1.45 (1.35–1.57; P 1.86 (1.71–2.01; P
Using dietary pattern scores as continuous variables further confirmed these associations, with the OR per standardized unit increase ranging from 1.40 (1.32–1.49) to 1.71 (1.60–1.82). Importantly, absolute risks indicated an 8.4% to 12.4% chance of achieving healthy aging among individuals exhibiting higher adherence to these dietary patterns.
When examining associations with specific domains of healthy aging, higher adherence to dietary patterns correlated positively with all individual domains. The significant multivariable-adjusted ORs for intact cognitive health ranged from 1.22 (1.15–1.28; P 1.65 (1.57–1.74; P 1.38 (1.30–1.46; P 2.30 (2.16–2.44; P
The study also highlighted that higher intakes of fruits, whole grains, vegetables, unsaturated fats, nuts, legumes, and low-fat dairy were positively associated with healthy aging. Conversely, increased consumption of trans fats, sodium, total meats, and red and processed meats correlated with lower odds of achieving healthy aging.
While adherence to dietary patterns significantly impacted healthy aging across both genders, the associations were notably stronger in women. Furthermore, stronger associations were observed in smokers and individuals with a BMI greater than 25 kg/m², as well as those with lower physical activity levels.
In conclusion, this extensive research underscores the critical role that adherence to healthy dietary patterns plays in promoting healthy aging. The findings suggest that diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats can significantly improve overall health outcomes as individuals age. As a practical implication, promoting such dietary patterns may be a viable strategy to enhance the quality of life in aging populations.
