目標：本研究目的在探討蔬果攝取頻率與台灣中老年人認知功能惡化的關聯。方法：本研究的資料來源為國民健康局的「台灣中老年身心社會生活狀況長期追蹤調查」於1999及2003年的資料。以4,440名，≥53歲的個案為樣本。以邏輯斯回歸分析1999年食物攝取頻率與認知衰退的橫斷關聯及與2003年認知惡化(以2003年SPMSQ總分減少2分界定為惡化)的縱性關聯。結果：在控制社會人口學(性別、年齡、教育年數)，生活方式(抽煙、喝酒、嚼檳榔、運動情形、休閒活動)，營養補充品攝取(魚油、卵磷脂)及健康(高血壓、糖尿病、心臟病、中風)等變項狀況下，橫斷分析顯示蔬果攝取每週≥5次者比每週<4次者之認知惡化風險減少31% (OR＝0.69, 95CI＝0.57-0.84, p＝0.001)；縱貫分析顯示每週蔬果攝取≥5次者與<4次者，四年後的認知惡化風險減少23% (0.77, 0.59-0.99, p＝0.048)；其他食物如肉禽類、魚類、海鮮類則不呈顯著關聯。結論：蔬果的攝取與認知惡化風險呈負關聯，且是認知惡化風險的預測因子。此結果顯示蔬果的攝取可能影響認知惡化風險，也彰顯飲食對於預防老人記憶退化及維持長期健康的重要性。

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the association between the frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption and cognitive function in older Taiwanese. Methods: We analyzed the 1999 and 2003 datasets of the “Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan”. Subjects were 4440 ≥53-year-old Taiwanese men and women. The frequency of consumption of fruits and vegetables in 1999 was examined for its possible cross-sectional association with cognitive status and for a possible association with the risk of cognitive decline four years later. Cognitive status and cognitive decline were rated with the SPMSQ scale. A reduction of 2 SPMSQ points was designated as a decline. Results: In a regression model that controlled for gender, age, years of education, smoking, drinking, betel quid chewing, physical activity, leisure activity, intake of nutritional supplements (fish oil & lecithin), and illness (hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke) and other possible confounders, the cross sectional analysis showed that more frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables (≥5 times/wk) was associated with a 31% reduction in cognitive impairment (OR = 0.69, 95 CI = 0.57-0.84, p = 0.001); the longitudinal analysis showed that those who consumed fruits and vegetables ≥5 times/wk had a 23% reduction in cognitive decline 4-years later when compared to those who consumed fruits and vegetables ≤4 times/wk (0.77, 0.59-0.99, p = 0.048). Other food categories such as meat and poultry, fish, seafood and dairy showed no significant associations. Conclusions: More frequent fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with a reduction in cognitive impairment and can protect against future cognitive decline. These results suggest that the intake of fruits and vegetables may offer protection against cognitive decline. The study also highlights the importance of diet in delaying aging-associated memory deterioration; however, these findings should be confirmed with more robust studies.