Table 1.
Characteristics of women at initial cognitive assessment, by tertile of dietary fat intake since midlife
| Saturated fat |
Polyunsaturated fat |
Trans fat |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tertile 1 | Tertile 2 | Tertile 3 | Tertile 1 | Tertile 2 | Tertile 3 | Tertile 1 | Tertile 2 | Tertile 3 | |
| Mean age (years) | 75 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 75 | 74 | 74 |
| Education (% registered nurse degree) | 78 | 78 | 82 | 78 | 82 | 79 | 76 | 81 | 82 |
| Antidepressant use (%) | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| Vitamin E supplements (%) | 53 | 50 | 41 | 44 | 49 | 52 | 55 | 48 | 42 |
| No alcohol intake (%) | 68 | 68 | 74 | 70 | 70 | 70 | 68 | 67 | 76 |
| BMI ≥30 kg/m2 (%) | 33 | 39 | 40 | 35 | 38 | 39 | 34 | 37 | 41 |
| Former smokers (%) | 48 | 46 | 47 | 47 | 48 | 46 | 51 | 48 | 42 |
| Current smokers (%) | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| Median physical activity (METs per week*) | 8 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| History of high blood pressure (%) | 78 | 74 | 79 | 78 | 76 | 77 | 75 | 78 | 77 |
| History of high cholesterol (%) | 81 | 78 | 69 | 77 | 76 | 76 | 79 | 76 | 74 |
| History of myocardial infarction (%) | 16 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 11 |
| Median diabetes duration (years) | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Oral hypoglycemic use (%) | 30 | 34 | 37 | 32 | 34 | 35 | 32 | 36 | 33 |
| Insulin use (%) | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 |
Percentages are of nonmissing values. Average diet intake since midlife from 1980 through the initial cognitive interview.
*One metabolic equivalent hour (MET) is proportional to the amount of energy expended sitting quietly.