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Impact of vegetarianism on cognition and neuropsychological status among urban community-dwelling adults in Telangana, South India: a cross-sectional study.
This study by Bojang & Manchana (2024) aimed to examine how vegetarianism affected the neuropsychological and cognitive condition of individuals in Telangana’s metropolitan communities. Given the mixed results from previous research on the potential benefits of vegetarian diets in reducing cognitive impairment, the study sought to provide a clearer understanding of this association. 304 persons 40 years of age and older who had been vegetarians or non-vegetarians for at least six months before data collection were included in the study. The authors considered that a participant would be positive for mild cognitive impairment if the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) result scored 19 or above. A Food Frequency Questionnaire was utilized to gather information on food intake, and dietary data was self-reported. The MMSE was used to test cognitive performance, while the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) were used to measure psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Lower ratings on the DASS subscales for stress, anxiety, and depression showed that vegetarians (n = 155) had far better mood states than non-vegetarians (n = 149). Furthermore, vegetarians also demonstrated superior cognitive functioning, with higher MMSE scores compared to non-vegetarians. Among vegetarians, MMSE scores were linked to lower symptoms of depression, but no significant correlations were found between MMSE scores and anxiety or stress. In contrast, MMSE scores among non-vegetarians showed a non-substantial reduction of depression. The findings from this study suggest that vegetarianism may have a positive influence on both cognitive function and mental well-being. Vegetarians in this sample exhibited lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, alongside better cognitive performance. However, further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of vegetarianism and plant-based diets on brain health and to understand the underlying mechanisms contributing to these outcomes. [NPID: Vegetarianism, cognition, mental health, nutrition, plant-based diet]
Year: 2024
