Nutrition-based Interventions to Prevent Cognitive Decline

The present project is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to study the feasibility and effectiveness of a 6-month nutrition-based intervention designed to prevent cognitive decline in adults at higher risk of dementia. Eligible individuals (n=120) recruited at primary health care centers or in the community will be randomized (1:1) into two arms: intervention and control groups. The intervention group will be invited to participate in nutrition-based sessions of 180-minutes per week, directed by a nutritionist, to improve participants' skills in preparing healthy meals and reduce sedentary behaviours. Participants will also be asked to perform cognitive training at home and to attend individualized clinical nutrition consultations. The control group will participate in data assessment and will receive a healthy recipes cookbook to thank for their participation. They will also receive an invitation to participate in free healthy cooking workshops, which will be offered upon the completion of the primary data collection endpoint. Both groups will continue receiving the usual standard care in their healthcare unit. Participants' assessments will be performed at baseline and will be repeated at the end of intervention (6 months after the beginning of the intervention). A follow-up assessment will be conducted 6 months after the intervention concludes. Adherence outcomes, as well as lifestyle, health and anthropometric data, cognitive performance, subjective memory complaints, anxiety and depression, quality of life and self-reported physical activity will be evaluated.