Consuming Specific Food and Drinks May Slash Dementia Risk, Study Says

In a new study, scientists found that people who consume flavonoid-rich foods and drinks, like berries and tea, may have a lower risk of developing dementia, especially if they are at higher risk for this memory-robbing condition.

In 2020, over 55 million people worldwide were living with dementia. Experts say this number will nearly double every 20 years, eventually reaching 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050.

However, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 40% of all dementia cases can potentially be prevented or delayed. Healthy lifestyle choices such as regular exercise and managing health conditions can all help reduce a person's dementia risks.

Consuming a healthy diet may also help prevent dementia. Scientists have found that diets such as the Mediterranean and MIND diets can improve brain health and functioning. Moreover, previous research revealed that consuming flavonoid-rich foods may improve memory and cognitive function.

Now, in a new study published on September 18 in JAMA Network Open, researchers found more evidence that consuming food and drinks high in flavonoids, especially tea, red wine, and berries, may lower dementia risk, especially in those at higher risk for the disease.

Flavonoid-rich foods and dementia risks

The study included 121,986 adults aged 40 to 70 from the UK Biobank study. Researchers retrieved 24-hour dietary intake data from each participant and calculated a "flavodiet" score based on how many servings of flavonoid-rich foods and drinks they consumed per day.

The assessment included flavonoid-rich foods such as tea (black and green), red wine, apples, berries, grapes, oranges, grapefruit, sweet peppers, onions, and dark chocolate.

After a nine-year follow-up period, the scientists identified participants who developed dementia and whether they had genetic risks for dementia, hypertension, or depressive symptoms.

The researchers found that compared to participants with the lowest flavodiet score, those who consumed six additional servings per day of flavonoid-rich foods had a 28% lower risk of dementia.

Individuals with depressive symptoms or genetic risks for dementia with a high flavodiet score reduced their risk of developing the disease by 48% and 43%, respectively.

Specifically, participants who consumed at least two of the following: five servings of tea, one serving of red wine, and 0.5 servings of berries, had the lowest risk of developing dementia.

The study's authors suggest that tea, red wine, and berries have high levels of flavonoid subclasses, including anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, and flavones, which may explain the findings.

They suggest that simple dietary changes, like increasing the intake of flavonoid-rich foods, may lower dementia risks, especially in people at high risk for cognitive decline.

The health benefits of red wine are unclear

While the study suggests red wine is a potential elixir for brain health, previous research has been inconclusive.

According to the study's authors, current health guidance in the United Kingdom recommends that people should reduce alcohol consumption, particularly during midlife, to minimize the risk of developing dementia.

However, a 2022 review of research found that consuming low to moderate amounts of wine may protect against cognitive decline.

Nonetheless, since it contains alcohol, the jury is still out on the health benefits and potential harms of drinking wine.

For example, while recent research investigating alcohol consumption found that participants who preferred to drink wine had a slightly lower risk of alcohol-related mortality, other studies suggest that even low alcohol consumption can increase the risk of cancer.

Moreover, alcohol use has been linked to a higher risk of over 200 different health conditions and accelerated cognitive decline in mice.