NIN study links Micronutrient deficiencies to higher dementia risk in Indian adults

A landmark study by ICMR-NIN, Stanford, and Karolinska Institute reveals that nearly 40% of surveyed Indian adults face high dementia risks, directly linking cognitive decline to deficiencies in vitamins D and B, alongside low dietary diversity

Hyderabad: If you are deficient in micronutrients like vitamins and essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium, then chances are that you are at risk of dementia.

A landmark study by Hyderabad-based National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) in collaboration with Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health, USA, and Karolinska Institute, Sweden, links micronutrient status with dementia risk among Indian adults, underscoring the potential role of nutrition in preventing cognitive decline and promoting healthy ageing.

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The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, used a culturally adopted dementia risk assessment tool by modifying the widely used Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Ageing and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) score and assessed its relationship with micronutrient profiles, NIN said.

The community-based cross-sectional study included 570 middle-aged and older adults (40-80 years) from rural and urban settings in Telangana. The study, which also evaluated dietary intake and dietary diversity, found that nearly 40 percent of participants were classified as having a higher predicted risk of dementia. Importantly, individuals in the higher-risk group demonstrated significantly poorer nutritional status, NIN researchers said.

Deficiencies of vitamins D, B2, B6 and B12 were markedly more prevalent among those with higher dementia risk scores. They also had lower dietary diversity, higher consumption of saturated fats and lower intake of unsaturated fats.

Vitamin deficiencies were more common among rural participants than their urban counterparts, highlighting rural-specific vulnerabilities that may contribute to increased dementia risk. The findings further suggest that diets rich in micronutrients, particularly fruits and vegetables, are associated with lower dementia risk factor burden.

Dr G. Bhanuprakash Reddy, Scientist G, ICMR-NIN and lead investigator of the study said, “Our findings highlight that micronutrient status is closely linked with the burden of dementia risk factors among Indian adults. The study emphasizes that nutrition, particularly micronutrient adequacy and dietary diversity, represent a modifiable factor that can be targeted through public health interventions.”

Dr Bharati Kulkarni, Director, ICMR-NIN, said, “This study provides important evidence that nutritional factors, especially micronutrient status should be integrated into dementia prevention strategies in future.”