Researchers at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine have discovered a potential key link between dietary antioxidants and Alzheimer’s prevention.
The study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, has provided compelling evidence suggesting that certain dietary components, such as lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, and vitamin E, play a significant role in preventing the neurodegenerative disease.
Deficits in Dietary Antioxidants: Alzheimer’s affected brains showed about half the levels of dietary antioxidants, like lutein and zeaxanthin, compared to normal brains.
Carotenoids and Brain Health: Carotenoids, found in colorful plants, serve as powerful antioxidants. Their presence in the diet can mitigate the oxidative damage to the brain, which is considered a precursor to conditions like Alzheimer’s.
Notably, lutein is primarily found in greens such as kale and spinach, while orange peppers and corn are rich in zeaxanthin.
Dorey-Craft Report: Dorey and Neal E. Craft had earlier indicated the selective accumulation of carotenoids in the brain.
Their recent findings revealed a strong correlation between decreased brain carotenoid levels and Alzheimer’s disease. Brains affected by Alzheimer’s showed significantly reduced levels of lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene.
The MIND Diet Connection: The Rush University Memory and Aging Project demonstrated that participants who adhered to the MIND diet, rich in antioxidant-packed foods and low in meat and sweets, had a substantially reduced risk of Alzheimer’s.
Those with high dietary intake of carotenoids, especially lutein/zeaxanthin, experienced a 50% reduction in Alzheimer’s risk.
Diagnosis and Future Prevention: By measuring the macular pigment optical density in the retina, which accumulates dietary lutein and zeaxanthin, scientists can estimate the brain’s concentration of these antioxidants.
This could pave the way for non-invasive methods to gauge Alzheimer’s risk.
Implications and Recommendations:
This research underscores the immense preventive potential of a diet rich in carotenoids.
Such a diet, combined with regular physical activity, may not only slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients but might also reduce the overall risk of developing the disease.
- Kathleen Dorey, the leading researcher, emphasized the significance of their findings, stating that it might encourage people to prioritize a carotenoid-abundant diet and regular exercise.
These steps, according to available studies, could substantially lower dementia risk.
As the global community grapples with increasing Alzheimer’s cases, this study offers hope and a tangible preventive strategy for individuals at risk.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and blood pressure problem at night may increase Alzheimer’s risk.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and epilepsy drug may help treat Alzheimer’s disease.
The study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
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