Apples and berries: reduce mental fitness and risk of dementia!

Apples and berries: reduce mental fitness and risk of dementia!

New findings from health research show that eating certain types of fruit such as apples and berries could play an important role in mental fitness and the prevention of dementia. This is particularly relevant given the increasing number of dementia cases in Germany. A study by Columbia University in New York examined important connections between nutrition and mental performance and provided exciting results.

Research has focused on flavonoids, a group of phytochemicals responsible for the colors of many fruits and found in foods such as cocoa, green and black tea. In this particular study, approximately 3,600 healthy, elderly participants, who were on average 70 years old, took part. The effect of flavanols, a special type of flavonoid, was systematically tested over a period of three years.

Reducing risk through healthy eating

The study shows that participants who regularly followed a healthy diet and also took flavanols in pill form experienced significant benefits in their cognitive abilities compared to those who consumed less flavonoid-rich foods. Particularly for those who already had a less than healthy diet, taking it also led to an improvement in memory performance.

A significant result was that the reduction in performance was the smallest in the third of the subjects with the healthiest diet. In contrast, participants who received flavonoids for the first time in the study experienced a positive change in their cognitive abilities as a result of the pills. However, there was no additional improvement in the subjects who already regularly ate apples and berries, suggesting that the natural intake of these foods may already be sufficient.

The President of the German Society for Nutrition, Prof. Dr. Bernhard Watzl, has emphasized that flavonoids can be viewed as a helpful preventative measure against dementia. However, as he explained in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, it is unclear whether there is a specific time window in which the decision to eat a healthy diet is particularly crucial. Watzl points out that younger people can also influence their later mental health through their diet in their earlier years.

Additionally, research highlights that younger people can also benefit from a healthy diet. Experts recommend that people over the age of 40 should include an apple in their diet every day. There is a widespread misconception that dementia is a disease that only affects older people. In fact, younger people can also be affected by the disease.

Overall, the study shows the importance of a conscious and healthy diet for maintaining mental health in old age. For detailed information about this remarkable study and its health implications, see the report on www.hna.de.

It remains to be seen how these new findings can be used in health promotion to improve people's quality of life and minimize the risks of dementia in the future.