A study suggests that summer fruit (low in calories) helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease

MVery sweet, low in calories, rich in minerals (iron and potassium) and vitamins C and B9 (folic acid), strawberries are much more than a summer fruit. One study conducted at Rush University in the US, suggests that it can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, a neurological disorder that causes progressive memory loss and cognitive decline.

The results of the research, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, indicate that these people have less tau protein in the brain, which builds up in some types of dementia, specifically Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists analyzed the brains of 575 people who died in their 90s without any sign of Alzheimer’s disease. The observations were made over two decades and began when the volunteers were still alive. During this period, older adults filled out annual questionnaires about their eating habits and cognitive skills.

Strawberries are one of the fruits that contain the highest amount of pelargonidin, an organic compound that gives the reddish color to fruits, vegetables and flowers. “We suspect that pelargonidine’s anti-inflammatory functions may reduce inflammation in the nervous system, decreasing cytokine production,” said Julie Schneider, a neurologist, who led the study.

Remember that Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is a neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, language disorders, and even difficulty performing tasks such as paying bills and handling money.

In contrast, dementia is a general term used to designate a group of diseases characterized by cognitive changes that may be associated with memory loss, language changes and disorientation in time and space. For most people, there is no cure and also no specific way to prevent dementia.

The World Health Organization estimates that there are 47.5 million people living with dementia worldwide, a number that could reach 75.6 million in 2030 and nearly triple by 2050 to 135.5 million. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for about 60 to 70% of all cases of dementia.

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