A new study from researchers at Rush University suggests that strawberries may do more than simply taste good.
Scientists found that compounds naturally found in strawberries could help protect the brain from changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease, one of the most common causes of dementia in older adults.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that slowly damages memory, thinking ability, and daily functioning. In the early stages, people may forget recent events or conversations.
As the disease becomes more severe, people may struggle to recognize loved ones, communicate clearly, or perform basic daily activities. Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of families worldwide, and scientists have been searching for ways to slow or prevent the condition for many years.
Although growing older increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia is not considered a normal part of aging. Researchers believe that many factors work together to influence who develops the disease and how quickly it progresses. These factors include genetics, lifestyle habits, diet, and environmental influences.
One important genetic factor linked to Alzheimer’s disease is called APOE ɛ4. People inherit genes from their biological parents, and this particular gene is known as a risk-factor gene because it increases the chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
However, not everyone who carries the gene develops the condition, which suggests that lifestyle and diet may also play an important role.
One of the major signs of Alzheimer’s disease inside the brain is the buildup of abnormal proteins. Scientists often focus on two important changes called amyloid plaques and tau tangles.
Tau is a protein normally found inside nerve cells, where it helps maintain tiny structures called microtubules. These structures work like transport systems inside the cells, helping move nutrients and other important materials throughout the brain.
In Alzheimer’s disease, tau proteins become damaged and twist together into tangled clumps. These tau tangles interfere with the normal function of brain cells and are believed to contribute to memory loss and brain degeneration.
Another harmful protein called amyloid-beta can also collect in the brain and damage nerve cells over time.
In the new study, researchers became interested in a natural plant compound called pelargonidin. This compound is responsible for the bright red or orange color found in many fruits and vegetables.
Strawberries are especially rich in pelargonidin, but the compound is also found in raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, plums, pomegranates, red radishes, and several other colorful fruits.
Earlier research had already suggested that pelargonidin may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Antioxidants help protect cells from damage caused by harmful molecules known as free radicals.
Inflammation, especially long-term inflammation, is also believed to play a role in aging and brain disease. Scientists previously found that pelargonidin may support better thinking ability and could lower the risk of Alzheimer’s-related dementia.
For the current study, the researchers wanted to know whether eating strawberries and other berry-rich foods was linked to healthier brain tissue in humans.
To investigate this question, they studied 575 deceased participants from the Rush Memory and Aging Project. The average age at death was around 90 years old, and about 70 percent of the participants were women.
Before their deaths, the participants had completed detailed food questionnaires about their eating habits. Researchers also examined brain tissue to measure signs of Alzheimer’s disease, including amyloid-beta buildup and tau tangles.
The scientists discovered that people who had consumed the highest amounts of pelargonidin-rich foods had lower levels of amyloid-beta and fewer tau tangles in their brains compared with people who consumed the least amounts.
The researchers also found an interesting difference related to genetics. In people who did not carry the APOE ɛ4 risk gene, higher strawberry and pelargonidin intake was linked to fewer tau tangles. However, this connection was not found in people who carried the APOE ɛ4 gene.
At first, the researchers did not find a clear link between overall berry intake and Alzheimer’s disease changes in the brain. But after removing people who already had dementia or mild cognitive impairment at the start of the study, they found that higher strawberry and pelargonidin intake was associated with fewer tau tangles.
These findings suggest that pelargonidin, the natural compound found in strawberries and other colorful fruits, may help protect the brain from some of the harmful changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers believe the compound may have an important role in brain health, particularly in reducing tau tangles.
Still, the researchers also caution that this study does not prove strawberries directly prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The study only shows a connection between higher intake of pelargonidin-rich foods and healthier brain changes.
More research is needed to understand exactly how these compounds work inside the brain and whether they can help slow disease progression.
Even so, the findings add to growing evidence that diet may play an important role in brain health as people age.
Eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other nutrient-rich foods has long been linked to better heart and brain health. Scientists increasingly believe that healthy eating habits may help reduce inflammation and protect brain cells over time.
The study gives people another reason to include strawberries and other colorful berries in their diet. While no single food can guarantee protection against Alzheimer’s disease, simple healthy habits may help support the brain throughout life.
The study was conducted by researchers at Rush University and adds to ongoing research exploring how nutrition may influence Alzheimer’s disease and healthy aging.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about the likely cause of Alzheimer’s disease , and new non-drug treatment that could help prevent Alzheimer’s.
For more health information, please see recent studies about diet that may help prevent Alzheimer’s, and results showing some dementia cases could be prevented by changing these 12 things.
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