A new study has shown that eating foods rich in flavonoids—like berries, tea, red wine, and dark chocolate—may reduce the risk of developing dementia.
This research, led by scientists from Queen’s University Belfast, suggests that increasing the intake of these flavonoid-rich foods could be an easy way to help prevent the disease.
Dementia is a growing concern, with about 1 million people currently living with it in the U.K., and this number is expected to reach 1.4 million by 2040.
While factors like age and genetics play a large role in developing dementia, researchers have found that lifestyle choices, such as diet, can also make a big difference.
Flavonoids, which are mainly found in plant-based foods, have several health benefits.
They help fight inflammation, reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, and improve brain function.
The study shows that increasing the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods may also lower the risk of dementia.
In this research, led by Professor Aedín Cassidy, the team analyzed the diets of over 120,000 adults aged 40 to 70 from the UK Biobank.
The findings revealed that people who ate six extra servings of flavonoid-rich foods per day—especially berries, tea, and red wine—had a 28% lower risk of developing dementia.
The effect was even stronger for people who had a higher genetic risk for the disease or symptoms of depression.
Dr. Amy Jennings, one of the study’s authors, emphasized the importance of these findings, saying, “This is a simple yet powerful way to lower dementia risk, especially for people who are at higher risk.
Since there is no cure for dementia, focusing on prevention is essential for improving people’s quality of life and reducing the costs of healthcare.”
This study sends a clear message: adding more flavonoid-rich foods to your diet could be a key step in protecting your brain health.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about dietary strategies to ward off dementia ,and how omega-3 fatty acids fuel your mind.
For more health information, please see recent studies about Choline deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and what to eat (and avoid) for dementia prevention.
