According to the World Health Organization, 50 million people worldwide suffer from some form of dementia, and that number is expected to grow by 10 million over the next decade. Out of that figure, some 60 to 70 percent have Alzheimer’s disease, which has no known cure.
Because there is no cure, it’s important to try and do everything we can to lower our risk. One key part of that lies in the foods that we eat.
One recent study that was published in the American Academy of Neurology’s medical journal, Neurology, looked at a group of foods rich in antioxidant flavonols. The study found that people who had diets rich in foods containing antioxidant flavonols (mainly fruits, vegetables, and tea) could be less likely to develop Alzheimer’s as they age.
The study pointed out seven foods (and drinks) that contained three compounds found in flavonols that have been shown to lower the risk of dementia. Isorhamnetin and myricetin decrease the risk by 38 percent each, while kaempferol cuts the risk by 51 percent.
Bronx Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation have seven foods that are high in these three componds.
- Pears – Isorhamnetin
- Oranges – Myricetin
- Tomatoes – Myricetin
- Broccoli – Kaempferol
- Red Wine – Isorhamnetin and myricetin
- Tea – Kaempferol and myricetin
- Kale – Kaempferol and myricetin
In addition, studies have shown that the so-called Mediterranean diet – rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, fish and grains – could also lower the risk of dementia. Foods to focus on here include brightly colored or dark-skinned fruits and vegetables, two to three servings of cold-water fish (like salmon) per week, beans and legumes for protein, extra virgin olive oil, whole greens, and small amounts of red wine and red meat.
To learn more about Bronx for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://bronx-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/.
