Long-term dietary flavonoid intake reduces risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Digest
Flavonoids are bioactive compounds present in a variety of fruits and vegetables. A growing body of evidence suggests that flavonoids, especially those in blueberries, cocoa, and orange juice, can have beneficial effects on brain health and cognitive function. A recent study shows that long-term flavonoid intake reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by problems with memory, learning, and decision-making. Approximately 70 percent of all dementia cases are due to Alzheimer’s disease.
The study drew on data from several cohorts enrolled in the Framingham Heart Study, a long-term, ongoing study of cardiovascular disease risk among people living in Framingham, Massachusetts. More than 2,800 participants in the study were followed over a period of nearly 20 years. Participants provided reports of their flavonoid intake via a food-frequency questionnaire at the beginning of the study and at each follow-up.
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The data indicated that the participants with the highest intakes of flavonoids had a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias compared with participants with the lowest intakes. These findings suggest that long-term flavonoid intake reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Diet plays a key role in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. One dietary strategy is the Ketoflex 12/3 diet, a form of time-restrictive eating that limits the period during which a person eats to a 12-hour window at least three hours before bedtime. Watch this clip in which Alzheimer’s disease expert Dr. Dale Bredesen describes the Ketoflex approach.