Recent findings support a long-term beneficial role of vegetable, fruit, and orange juice consumption on subjective cognitive function (SCF). Among 27,842 men with a mean age of 51 years in 1986, researchers used multinomial logistic regression to examine the relation of vegetable and fruit consumption to future SCF. Average dietary intake was calculated from 5 repeated food frequency questionnaires collected every 4 years until 2002. SCF score was assessed twice (2008 and 2012) using a 6-item questionnaire; validity was supported by strong associations with APO ε4 genotype. They categorized the average of the 2 scores as good, moderate, and poor SCF, and found:

• Higher intakes of total vegetables, total fruits, and fruit juice were each significantly associated with lower odds of moderate or poor SCF after controlling for major non-dietary factors and total energy intake.
• The association with total fruit intake was weaker after further adjusting for major dietary factors.
• Higher consumption of vegetables and fruits 18 to 22 years before SCF assessment was associated with lower odds of poor SCF independent of more proximal intake.