Taurine Intake, Plasma Taurine Concentration, and Dementia Risk: Findings From the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study

Preclinical studies suggest that taurine may exert neuroprotective effects. However, its relevance to dementia risk in human populations remains unclear. We investigated the associations between mid-life dietary taurine intake, circulating taurine concentrations, and the risk of late-life all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) in a large prospective cohort. This study utilized data from 27 786 participants of the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study with baseline examination from 1991 to 1996. Dietary taurine intake was estimated from a detailed diet history and adjusted for energy intake. Plasma taurine concentration was measured in a subset of 3693 individuals. Dementia diagnoses were ascertained through the Swedish National Patient Register and validated by memory clinic physicians. Cox proportional hazards models assessed associations with dementia risk, adjusting for potential confounders including APOE ε4 status, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities. Over a median 25-year follow-up, 3224 participants developed dementia. No significant associations were found between dietary taurine intake or plasma taurine concentrations and the risk of all-cause dementia, AD, or VaD. Circulating taurine concentrations were only weakly correlated with dietary intake, suggesting a predominant role of endogenous taurine synthesis and metabolism. Our findings fail to support a protective role for taurine intake against dementia in humans. Further studies are warranted to examine potential effects under specific pathological conditions or with high-dose supplementation.