Plant-based dietary patterns, referring to emphasizing more plant foods and fewer animal foods, as well as sodium and calcium in the diet, have been shown to be associated with the incidence of multiple morbidities. The number of older adults with diseases, such as cardiovascular disease (stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure) and cognitive impairment (cognitive impairment or dementia), has increased with the growing aging population. Dietary factors may provide insight into strategies to reduce the incidence of these diseases. Plant-based dietary patterns were found to be associated with a lower risk of depression and mortality. However, the effects of plant-based dietary patterns and specific foods on the incidence of cardiovascular disease and cognitive impairment are not yet fully understood. The 24-hour excretion of urinary sodium, estimated from spot urine samples, provides an accurate method for evaluating dietary sodium intake, whereas dietary calcium intake can be partially assessed through serum calcium levels. Although a diet of sodium and calcium has been found to be associated with cardiovascular disease, the conclusions are not consistent. Further, the levels of urinary sodium and serum calcium in relation to concrete diseases such as stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, or cognitive impairment remain unknown.
The findings of the present study will elucidate the associations between plant-based dietary patterns, dietary sodium, and calcium, and the incidence of cognitive impairment and cardiovascular disease. The conclusion of this study will provide insight into the role of plant-based dietary patterns, dietary sodium, and dietary calcium in the incidence of these diseases and may help reduce the risk of these diseases through dietary management.
We intend to publish our findings in high-impact, peer-reviewed scientific journals and present our findings at leading neurological conferences.
