Objective: Several studies have found an inverse association between fish consumption and risk of dementia. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of older fish consumers, in order to identify potential confounders in this relationship.
Design: Cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data of a prospective cohort study.
Setting: Bordeaux, Dijon, and Montpellier (France) in 1999-2000.
Subjects: A total of 9280 community dwellers aged 65 y and above participating in the baseline examination of the Three-City Study.
Interventions: All participants answered a face-to-face interview and underwent a physical examination. Cross-sectional analyses were performed by logistic regressions.
Results: Regular fish consumers (at least weekly) had a higher education (OR from 1.19 to 1.65, P = 0.0003) and income (OR from 1.37 to 1.89, P < 0.0001). Controlling for age, sex, education, and city, they had a higher consumption of pulses, fruit, and vegetables (P < 0.001). They were more often alcohol drinkers (P < 0.0001). They felt in better health (P < 0.05), exhibited less depressive symptoms (P < 0.001), and scored higher on the Mini Mental Status Examination (P < 0.05). However, their objective physical health status was not better, except that they were leaner. They suffered more often from hypertension and past stroke.
Conclusions: Socioeconomic status, dietary habits, depression, and vascular risk factors could act as confounders in the relationship between fish consumption and risk of dementia.