A recent study suggests that consuming higher levels of flavonoid-rich foods such as berries, tea, and red wine could notably decrease the risk of dementia, especially for individuals at a higher risk due to genetic predispositions or other factors like high blood pressure or depression. Flavonoids are bioactive compounds found in plant-based foods that offer numerous health benefits, including reducing inflammation, improving blood vessel function, and potentially promoting neurogenesis in the brain. The study, led by researchers at Queen’s University Belfast, examined data from nearly 122,000 adults aged 40 to 70 from the UK Biobank to evaluate the relationship between diet and dementia risk. Participants with the highest flavonoid intake were found to be 28% less likely to develop dementia than those with the lowest intake, especially individuals with high genetic risk, hypertension, or depressive symptoms.
Specific foods like tea, red wine, and berries, as well as certain flavonoid subclasses like anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, and flavones, were associated with a lower risk of dementia. Consuming at least two servings daily of tea, red wine, or berries was found to reduce dementia risk by 38% compared to those who did not consume these amounts. However, if these items were excluded from the diet, the protective effect diminished, indicating their importance in reducing dementia risk. While the study had a large sample size, limitations such as self-reported dietary data and the selection of a healthier population from the UK Biobank may affect generalizability to other populations.
Experts not involved in the study noted that the results are encouraging, especially for those with modifiable risk factors such as high blood pressure and depression. Tea and berries have consistently shown benefits for brain health, while the impact of red wine remains controversial. Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between alcohol consumption and dementia risk, as flavonoids found in wine may play a more significant role in any observed benefits than alcohol itself. In addition to incorporating more flavonoid-rich foods like tea, berries, and leafy greens, experts recommend following dietary patterns like the MIND diet for dementia prevention.
It is essential for individuals to focus on incorporating flavonoid-rich foods into their diets to reduce dementia risk, along with making other healthy lifestyle changes. Adopting a dietary pattern like the MIND diet, which emphasizes plant-based foods and limits processed foods, can also help in dementia prevention. While the study did disclose a potential conflict of interest with the United States Highbush Blueberry Council, it was clarified that the council did not fund the study and had no involvement in the data collection, analysis, or interpretation. Ultimately, the study highlights the importance of flavonoid-rich foods like tea, berries, and leafy greens in reducing the risk of dementia and the need for further research to better understand the impact of alcohol consumption on dementia risk.
