Fighting dementia with flavonoids

A diet rich in flavonoids could reduce the risk of developing dementia.

Flavonoid-rich foods and beverages include apples, berries, grapes, oranges, grapefruit, sweet peppers, onions, dark chocolate, tea and red wine.

In a study published in JAMA Network Open, investigators used the UK Biobank to analyze the outcomes of 121,986 participants aged 40 to 70 years. They then assessed dietary data to determine which participants had a high consumption of flavonoid-rich foods and beverages and genetic data to identify those genetically susceptible to dementia.

The investigators discovered that the participants with the highest intake of flavonoid-rich foods and beverages were about 28% less likely to develop dementia compared with those who had the lowest intake of the products. Dementia risk was particularly reduced in those who had a genetic predisposition for dementia, those with symptoms of depression and those with hypertension.

The investigators recommended that individuals increase their daily consumption of flavonoids to lower their risk of dementia.

Read more: JAMA Network Open

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