Table 2.
Possible Confounding Factors Explored.a
| Characteristics of the Sample | N = 89 | MCI-AD (%) | AD (%) | HC (%) | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tobacco smoking | ns | ||||
| Non smokers | 49 | 16 (55.2) | 17 (56.6) | 16 (53.4) | |
| Smokers (current or former) | 40 | 13 (44.8) | 13 (43.4) | 14 (46.6) | |
| Alcohol consumption | .03 | ||||
| Light or heavy | 37 | 8 (27.5) | 16 (53.4) | 13 (43.4) | |
| Moderate | 52 | 21 (72.4) | 14 (46.6) | 17 (56.6) | |
| Physical activity | ns | ||||
| 0 h/week | 35 | 9 (31.0) | 11 (36.6) | 15 (50.0) | |
| ≥1 h/week | 54 | 20 (69.0) | 19 (63.4) | 15 (50.0) | |
| Adherence to MeDi | ns | ||||
| Low (MDS < 4) | 41 | 12 (41.3) | 15 (50.0) | 14 (46.6) | |
| High (MDS ≥ 4) | 48 | 17 (58.7) | 15 (50.0) | 16 (53.4) | |
| Family history of cognitive impairment | ns | ||||
| No | 66 | 22 (75.9) | 21 (70.0) | 23 (76.7) | |
| Yes | 23 | 7 (24.1) | 9 (30.0) | 7 (23.3) | |
| Pesticides exposure | ns | ||||
| No | 78 | 25 (86.2) | 28 (93.3) | 25 (83.3) | |
| Yes | 11 | 4 (13.8) | 2 (6.7) | 5 (16.7) | |
| Other toxic substances exposure | ns | ||||
| No | 78 | 27 (93.1) | 27 (90.0) | 24 (80.0) | |
| Yes | 11 | 2 (6.9) | 3 (10.0) | 6 (20.0) | |
| History of arterial hypertension | ns | ||||
| No | 42 | 13 (44.8) | 16 (53.4) | 13 (43.4) | |
| Yes | 47 | 16 (55.2) | 14 (46.6) | 17 (56.6) | |
| History of coronary artery disease | ns | ||||
| No | 85 | 28 (96.5) | 30 (100.0) | 27 (90.0) | |
| Yes | 4 | 1 (3.5) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (10.0) | |
| History of diabetes | ns | ||||
| No | 75 | 21 (72.4) | 28 (93.3) | 26 (86.6) | |
| Yes | 14 | 8 (27.6) | 2 (6.7) | 4 (13.4) | |
| Hypercholesterolemia | ns | ||||
| No | 68 | 22 (75.8) | 21 (70.0) | 25 (83.3) | |
| Yes | 21 | 7 (24.2) | 9 (30.0) | 5 (16.7) | |
| Obesity | ns | ||||
| No | 79 | 25 (86.2) | 27 (90.0) | 27 (90.0) | |
| Yes | 10 | 4 (13.8) | 3 (10.0) | 3 (10.0) | |
| Hypothyroidism | ns | ||||
| No | 73 | 25 (86.2) | 25 (83.3) | 23 (76.7) | |
| Yes | 16 | 4 (13.8) | 5 (16.7) | 7 (23.3) | |
| Hyperthyroidism | ns | ||||
| No | 89 | 29 (100.0) | 30 (100.0) | 30 (100.0) | |
| Yes | 0 | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Chronic treatment with acetylsalicylic acid | ns | ||||
| No | 67 | 22 (75.8) | 24 (80.0) | 21 (70.0) | |
| Yes | 22 | 7 (24.2) | 6 (20.0) | 9 (30.0) | |
| Chronic treatment with statins | ns | ||||
| No | 77 | 26 (89.7) | 27 (90.0) | 24 (80.0) | |
| Yes | 12 | 3 (10.3) | 3 (10.0) | 6 (20.0) | |
| Chronic treatment with levothyroxine | ns | ||||
| No | 76 | 26 (89.7) | 26 (86.6) | 24 (80.0) | |
| Yes | 13 | 3 (10.3) | 4 (13.4) | 6 (20.0) | |
| ApoE | ns | ||||
| ε4 ε4 carrier | 7 | 3 (10.0) | 2 (7.0) | 1 (5.0) | |
| ε3 ε4 carrier | 22 | 14 (46.6) | 12 (42.0) | 9 (30.0) | |
| ε4 noncarrier | 30 | 13 (43) | 15 (51.0) | 20 (65.0) |
Abbreviations: AD, Alzheimer’s disease with mild dementia, MCI-AD, mild cognitive impairment due to AD, HC, healthy controls; MDS, Mediterranean Diet Score; MeDi, Mediterranean diet; ns, not significant; ApoE, apolipoprotein E.
aData are shown as (percentages). Alcohol consumption: low < 1 UK unit, moderate 2-3 UK unit, >3 UK unit (UK unit = 10 mL pure alcohol).