Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease with slowly progressing symptoms. Alzheimer’s disease is characterised by dementia and changes in behaviour. This disease usually attacks those aged 65 years and over. It is not yet known what the main cause of Alzheimer’s disease is. However, experts believe that diet can be one factor that can increase these risks.
In the results of a study conducted by Tufts University’s Human Nutrition Research Center, diets rich in flavonoids such as berries, apples, and tea may lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. These results were obtained after analysing the diet of 2,801 participants for nearly 20 years. To find out more about their diet, each participant was asked to fill out a questionnaire every four years. In addition, researchers also collected data on the health history of each participant.
The results showed that 193 participants experienced ADRD (Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias) while 158 participants experienced symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Those who have a low intake of flavonoids have 2 to 4 times higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s. The results of this study have been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition recently.
Flavonoids are natural compounds that can be found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and tea. Flavonoids are known to have a myriad of benefits that are good for your body. High flavonoid intake has been shown to help reduce the risk of several types of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, to cancer. Therefore, the term ‘an apple a day’ can be applied to help maintain the health of your body.
Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Pixabay
Source(s):
- Shishtar, E., Rogers, G.T., Blumberg, J.B., et al (2020). Long-term dietary flavonoid intake and risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in the Framingham Offspring Cohort. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqaa079.
- Medical News Today - Low flavonoid intake associated with Alzheimer’s risk (2020). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/low-flavonoid-intake-associated-with-alzheimers-risk#6-types-of-flavonoid, 26 May 2020.