Mid-Life Household Food Insecurity and Subsequent Memory Function and Rate of Decline in Rural South Africa, 2004-2022.
Neuroepidemiology
; : 1-10, 2024 Jun 10.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38857577
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
We aimed to investigate mid-life food insecurity over time in relation to subsequent memory function and rate of decline in Agincourt, rural South Africa.METHODS:
Data from the longitudinal Agincourt Health and Socio-Demographic Surveillance System (Agincourt HDSS) were linked to the population-representative Health and Aging in Africa A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa (HAALSI). Food insecurity (yes vs. no) and food insecurity intensity (never/rarely/sometimes vs. often/very often) in the past month were assessed every 3 years from 2004 to 2013 in Agincourt HDSS. Cumulative exposure to each food insecurity measure was operationalized as 0, 1, and ≥2 time points. Episodic memory was assessed from 2014/15 to 2021/22 in HAALSI. Mixed-effects linear regression models were fitted to investigate the associations of each food insecurity measure with memory function and rate of decline over time.RESULTS:
A total of 3,186 participants (mean age [SD] in 2004 53 [12.87]; range 30-96) were included and 1,173 (36%) participants experienced food insecurity in 2004, while this figure decreased to 490 (15%) in 2007, 489 (15%) in 2010, and 150 (5%) in 2013. Experiencing food insecurity at one time point (vs. never) from 2004 to 2013 was associated with lower baseline memory function (ß = -0.095; 95% CI -0.159 to -0.032) in 2014/15 but not rate of memory decline. Higher intensity of food insecurity at ≥2 time points (vs. never) was associated with lower baseline memory function (ß = -0.154, 95% CI -0.338 to 0.028), although the estimate was imprecise. Other frequencies of food insecurity and food insecurity intensity were not associated with memory function or decline in the fully adjusted models.CONCLUSION:
In this setting, mid-life food insecurity may be a risk factor for lower later-life memory function, but not decline.
Full text:
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Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Year:
2024
Type:
Article