Vineela Vepakomma, Karthikeyan Ramanujam, Kiran K. Angadi, Shalini Tattari, Francesca Mangialasche, Miia Kivipelto, Vidyani Suryadevara, G Bhanuprakash Reddy
Background: Dementia develops from a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors, and nearly half of dementia globally are attributable to modifiable risk factors, including nutrition. We aim to examine the relationship between nutritional status and dementia risk factor burden, as quantified by the context-specific CAIDE score, for its applicability in India. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study involved middle-aged and older-adults residing in Telangana, India. The Indian-specific CAIDE score was calculated using the variables: age, gender, education, BMI, physical activity, systolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol. Dietary intake and blood vitamin levels were estimated and correlated with the dementia risk factor burden. Findings: Among 556 study participants (mean age: 63 years), 39% had a predicted risk of dementia (≥9 CAIDE score). The risk was higher in rural areas (60% vs 27%) and in females (55% vs 45%). Vitamin B2 deficiency was most prevalent (64%), followed by vitamin D (42%), B6 (34%), active B12 (17%), B9 (8%), and B1 (3%). The prevalence of deficiencies in vitamin D, B2, B6, and B9 was significantly higher in the high-risk group (HRG) than in the low-risk group (LRG). Dietary diversity was lower in the HRG than in the LRG. Saturated fat intake was higher, whereas unsaturated fat intake was lower in HRG than in LRG. Vitamin deficiencies (D, B2, B6, B9, B12) were significantly higher among rural participants than among urban participants. Interpretation: This study applies a context-specific CAIDE score for dementia risk assessment in adults from India and reports its association with nutritional markers. Funding: This work was supported by grants from the Department of Biotechnology (BT/PR36689/PFN/20/1524/2020) and the Indian Council of Medical Research, Government of India.