(P22-054-25) Dietary Inflammatory Index Is Related to Pain-Related Outcomes and Associated Cognitive Domains in Older Adults With Knee Pain: Preliminary Results From the PANDA Study.

Objectives: While recent evidence suggests associations between diet pattern and pain outcomes, as well as diet pattern and cognitive outcomes, the influence diet pattern has on the relationship between pain and cognitive outcomes in tandem remains unexplored. This study aimed to explore preliminary associations between the dietary inflammatory index (DII), cognitive function (NIH Toolbox domains) and self-reported pain (severity and interference) data.

Methods: A subset (n=34) of participant data was used. Study personnel were trained to properly deliver a 24-hour Food Recall to participants. Nutrition reports containing detailed macronutrient and micronutrient intake were generated and used to calculate the DII for each participant. Pain severity and interference were captured using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). The NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery was used to assess various domains of cognitive performance.

Results: The participants had an average age of 63.27 years old, were mostly female and non-Hispanic Black. Preliminary correlational analyses revealed significant associations (p < 0.05) between DII score and self-reported pain severity, where more positive/proinflammatory DII scores were associated with more severe pain. This was primarily driven by females and those with high impact pain. The DII was also significantly correlated with several cognitive measures on the NIH toolbox: fluid cognition, and inhibitory control were significantly correlated with more positive/proinflammatory DII scores associated with worse cognitive scores. Pain severity, but not interference, was also associated with cognitive measures, including fluid cognition, total cognition, inhibitory control, picture card processing speed, picture sorting memory, whereby as self-reported pain scores increased, cognitive scores decreased.

Conclusions: These data support the relationship between pain and cognitive function and demonstrate the potential of diet pattern having impact on this relationship.

Funding Sources: This work was funded by NIH/NIA grant K99AG081552 awarded to LJS.