COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE OF EGYPTIAN ADULTS AS A FUNCTION OF NUTRITIONALINTAKE AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS

This study was designed to investigate whether variability in adult co gnitive performance was associated with variability in dietary energy intake or with variability in dietary intake quality, as defined by in take of animal source foods. In addition, we also investigated whether the impact of nutrition was amplified by covarying nonnutrient risk f actors. Participants were 54 Egyptian male adults and 101 Egyptian fem ale adults. Using a combination of oral recall and weighing of food po rtions, the level of individual dietary intake was established for 22 specific nutrients, including measures of energy (kilocalories), macro nutrients (fat, protein), and micronutrients (vitamins, trace minerals ). Adults were mildly deficient in specific trace minerals and vitamin s, but were not clinically malnourished. Participants were tested on f our subscales from the Egyptian version of the WAIS-R and the Raven's Progressive Matrices. In addition we also obtained measures of family SES, individual education level, and adult height as a proxy for prior nutritional status. Results indicated that male cognitive performance was primarily associated with intake of animal source foods, with a s mall contribution of socioeconomic status. Female cognitive performanc e was primarily associated with level of education, with a small contr ibution from animal source foods. The results emphasize the salience o f nutritional intake for adult cognition, even with populations that a re not clinically malnourished. The results also emphasize the importa nce of studying nutritional influences as part of a larger system of m ultiple determinants of human behavior.