Flavonoids in Diet Could Play a Role in Reducing Alzheimer's Risk

Key TakeawaysMany factors are associated with the causes and risks of developing Alzheimer’s in a person’s lifetime, including diet and lifestyle.A new study shows that eating foods containing natural compounds called flavonoids may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias as well as Alzheimer’s disease.

Key Takeaways

Many factors are associated with the causes and risks of developing Alzheimer’s in a person’s lifetime, including diet and lifestyle.A new study shows that eating foods containing natural compounds called flavonoids may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias as well as Alzheimer’s disease.

According to a new study, eating a diet rich in tea, pears, and other dietary flavonoid sources may lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (ADRD). Additionally, a diet high in flavonols and anthocyanins—two specific classes of flavonoids—may also reduce the risks for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Flavonoids are plant chemicals that fight free radicals and oxidative stress, as well as potentially play a positive role in brain health. Flavonoids offer antioxidant activity and work against oxidative stress which can cause damage to nerve cells.

“This exciting new research further supports that diets rich in these naturally occurring compounds are associated with [a] lower risk of cognitive decline, Samina Kalloo, RDN, CDN, a New York-based registered dietitian, tells Verywell. “While the evidence is limited, research on the brain-protecting effects of the long-term intakes of flavonoids, like those found in tea, is promising and further proves that diet matters in overall health and well-being.”

This isn’t the first time flavonoids have been linked to Alzheimer’s. Research shows they help reduce the amyloid plaques that can appear in Alzheimer’s disease. Other research suggests they may also stimulate blood flow in the brain.

What This Means For YouEating flavonoid-rich foods and beverages like 100% orange juice, tea, pears, and red wine may reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias.

What This Means For You

Eating flavonoid-rich foods and beverages like 100% orange juice, tea, pears, and red wine may reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias.

Reduced Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementia

The findings from the August 2020 study were published inThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The researchers evaluated the effects of flavonoid intake on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias using data from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort as well as included 2801 and 2800 participants for the ADRD and AD analyses, respectively.

The foods and beverages containing flavonoids that were included in the study werered wine, orange juice, tea, oranges, apples/pears, and strawberries.

Throughout the study, the participants' flavonoid intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. After an average follow-up of 19.7 years, the researchers identified ADRD and AD cases in participants using various methods, including a decline in routine Mini-Mental State Exam score.

What Is the Mini-Mental State Exam?

“The researchers found that flavonoid intakes in the 60th percentile or above had the greatest protective effects with participants being about 40% less likely to develop ADRD,”Hailey Crean, MS, RDN, CDCES, a registered dietitian specializing in diabetes care in Massachusetts, tells Verywell.

The same pattern of associations was seen with AD—specifically, for the intake of onlyflavonolsand anthocyanins.

The flavonoids the researchers found had the greatest effect included:

“These results further support the importance of diet quality rather than calorie or macronutrient counting alone," Crean says. “Similar results were also found in the Mediterranean-Dietary Approach to Systolic Hypertension (DASH) diet intervention for neurodegenerative delay (MIND), a study in which diets high in vegetables and fruits were found to have protective effects from cognitive decline.“

Can You Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?

Flavonoids and Brain Health

For this study, which included older adults (average age 81 years), the top sources of these flavanols include:

Additional Ways to Support Your Brain Health

Flavonoids—specifically anthocyanins, flavanol, and flavonoid polymers—may offer important brain benefits—particularly where Alzheimer’s and related dementias are concerned.

Getting more of these compounds in your diet can be as simple as sipping on a cup of tea or snacking on a pear. That said, consuming more flavanols isn’t the thing you can do to boost your brain health. Research has shown that other diet and lifestyle changes can also support your brain, including:

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Alzheimer’s Association.Causes and Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease.Shishrar E, Rogers G, Blumberg J, Au Rhoda, Jacques P.Long-term dietary flavonoid intake and risk of Alzheimer disease and related dementias in the Framingham Offspring Cohort.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020 Aug 1;112(2):343-353. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa079Wang J, Varghese M, Ono K, Yamada M, Levine S, Tzavaras N, et al.Cocoa extracts reduce oligomerization of amyloid-β: implications for cognitive improvement in Alzheimer’s disease.J Alzheimers Dis. 2014;41(2):643-50. doi:10.3233/JAD-132231Nehlig A.The neuroprotective effects of cocoa flavanol and its influence on cognitive performance.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2013 Mar;75(3):716-27. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04378Morris MC, Tangney CC, Wang Y, Sacks FM, Barnes LL, Bennett DA, Aggarwal NT. MIND diet slows cognitive decline with aging.Alzheimer’s Dement.2015 Sep;11(9):1015-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2015.04.011. Epub 2015 Jun 15. PMID: 26086182; PMCID: PMC4581900.Holland T, Agarwal P, Wang Y, Leurgans S, Bennett D, Booth S, Morris M.Dietary flavonols and risk of Alzheimer dementia.Neurology. 2020 Apr 21;94(16):e1749-e1756. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000008981Additional ReadingReddy P, Manczak M, Yin X, Grady M, Mitchell A, Tonk S, et al.Protective effects of Indian spice curcumin against amyloid-β in Alzheimer’s disease.J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;61(3):843-866. doi:10.3233/JAD-170512Schultz S, Larson J, Oh J, Koscik R, Dowling MN, Gallagher CL, et al.Participation in cognitively-stimulating activities is associated with brain structure and cognitive function in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.Brain Imaging Behav. 2015 Dec;9(4):729-36. doi:10.1007/s11682-014-9329-5Sydenham E, Dangour A, Wee-Shiong L.Omega 3 fatty acid for the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia.Cochrane Database Syst. 2012 Jun 13;(6):CD005379. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005379Tarumi T, Rossetti H, Thomas B, Harris T, Tseng BY, Turner M, et al.Exercise rtaining in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: A one-year randomized controlled trial.J Alzheimers Dis. 2019;71(2):421-433. doi:10.3233/JAD-181175

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Alzheimer’s Association.Causes and Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease.Shishrar E, Rogers G, Blumberg J, Au Rhoda, Jacques P.Long-term dietary flavonoid intake and risk of Alzheimer disease and related dementias in the Framingham Offspring Cohort.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020 Aug 1;112(2):343-353. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa079Wang J, Varghese M, Ono K, Yamada M, Levine S, Tzavaras N, et al.Cocoa extracts reduce oligomerization of amyloid-β: implications for cognitive improvement in Alzheimer’s disease.J Alzheimers Dis. 2014;41(2):643-50. doi:10.3233/JAD-132231Nehlig A.The neuroprotective effects of cocoa flavanol and its influence on cognitive performance.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2013 Mar;75(3):716-27. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04378Morris MC, Tangney CC, Wang Y, Sacks FM, Barnes LL, Bennett DA, Aggarwal NT. MIND diet slows cognitive decline with aging.Alzheimer’s Dement.2015 Sep;11(9):1015-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2015.04.011. Epub 2015 Jun 15. PMID: 26086182; PMCID: PMC4581900.Holland T, Agarwal P, Wang Y, Leurgans S, Bennett D, Booth S, Morris M.Dietary flavonols and risk of Alzheimer dementia.Neurology. 2020 Apr 21;94(16):e1749-e1756. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000008981Additional ReadingReddy P, Manczak M, Yin X, Grady M, Mitchell A, Tonk S, et al.Protective effects of Indian spice curcumin against amyloid-β in Alzheimer’s disease.J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;61(3):843-866. doi:10.3233/JAD-170512Schultz S, Larson J, Oh J, Koscik R, Dowling MN, Gallagher CL, et al.Participation in cognitively-stimulating activities is associated with brain structure and cognitive function in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.Brain Imaging Behav. 2015 Dec;9(4):729-36. doi:10.1007/s11682-014-9329-5Sydenham E, Dangour A, Wee-Shiong L.Omega 3 fatty acid for the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia.Cochrane Database Syst. 2012 Jun 13;(6):CD005379. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005379Tarumi T, Rossetti H, Thomas B, Harris T, Tseng BY, Turner M, et al.Exercise rtaining in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: A one-year randomized controlled trial.J Alzheimers Dis. 2019;71(2):421-433. doi:10.3233/JAD-181175

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Alzheimer’s Association.Causes and Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease.Shishrar E, Rogers G, Blumberg J, Au Rhoda, Jacques P.Long-term dietary flavonoid intake and risk of Alzheimer disease and related dementias in the Framingham Offspring Cohort.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020 Aug 1;112(2):343-353. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa079Wang J, Varghese M, Ono K, Yamada M, Levine S, Tzavaras N, et al.Cocoa extracts reduce oligomerization of amyloid-β: implications for cognitive improvement in Alzheimer’s disease.J Alzheimers Dis. 2014;41(2):643-50. doi:10.3233/JAD-132231Nehlig A.The neuroprotective effects of cocoa flavanol and its influence on cognitive performance.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2013 Mar;75(3):716-27. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04378Morris MC, Tangney CC, Wang Y, Sacks FM, Barnes LL, Bennett DA, Aggarwal NT. MIND diet slows cognitive decline with aging.Alzheimer’s Dement.2015 Sep;11(9):1015-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2015.04.011. Epub 2015 Jun 15. PMID: 26086182; PMCID: PMC4581900.Holland T, Agarwal P, Wang Y, Leurgans S, Bennett D, Booth S, Morris M.Dietary flavonols and risk of Alzheimer dementia.Neurology. 2020 Apr 21;94(16):e1749-e1756. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000008981

Alzheimer’s Association.Causes and Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Shishrar E, Rogers G, Blumberg J, Au Rhoda, Jacques P.Long-term dietary flavonoid intake and risk of Alzheimer disease and related dementias in the Framingham Offspring Cohort.Am J Clin Nutr. 2020 Aug 1;112(2):343-353. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqaa079

Wang J, Varghese M, Ono K, Yamada M, Levine S, Tzavaras N, et al.Cocoa extracts reduce oligomerization of amyloid-β: implications for cognitive improvement in Alzheimer’s disease.J Alzheimers Dis. 2014;41(2):643-50. doi:10.3233/JAD-132231

Nehlig A.The neuroprotective effects of cocoa flavanol and its influence on cognitive performance.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2013 Mar;75(3):716-27. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04378

Morris MC, Tangney CC, Wang Y, Sacks FM, Barnes LL, Bennett DA, Aggarwal NT. MIND diet slows cognitive decline with aging.Alzheimer’s Dement.2015 Sep;11(9):1015-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2015.04.011. Epub 2015 Jun 15. PMID: 26086182; PMCID: PMC4581900.

Holland T, Agarwal P, Wang Y, Leurgans S, Bennett D, Booth S, Morris M.Dietary flavonols and risk of Alzheimer dementia.Neurology. 2020 Apr 21;94(16):e1749-e1756. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000008981

Reddy P, Manczak M, Yin X, Grady M, Mitchell A, Tonk S, et al.Protective effects of Indian spice curcumin against amyloid-β in Alzheimer’s disease.J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;61(3):843-866. doi:10.3233/JAD-170512Schultz S, Larson J, Oh J, Koscik R, Dowling MN, Gallagher CL, et al.Participation in cognitively-stimulating activities is associated with brain structure and cognitive function in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.Brain Imaging Behav. 2015 Dec;9(4):729-36. doi:10.1007/s11682-014-9329-5Sydenham E, Dangour A, Wee-Shiong L.Omega 3 fatty acid for the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia.Cochrane Database Syst. 2012 Jun 13;(6):CD005379. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005379Tarumi T, Rossetti H, Thomas B, Harris T, Tseng BY, Turner M, et al.Exercise rtaining in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: A one-year randomized controlled trial.J Alzheimers Dis. 2019;71(2):421-433. doi:10.3233/JAD-181175

Reddy P, Manczak M, Yin X, Grady M, Mitchell A, Tonk S, et al.Protective effects of Indian spice curcumin against amyloid-β in Alzheimer’s disease.J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;61(3):843-866. doi:10.3233/JAD-170512

Schultz S, Larson J, Oh J, Koscik R, Dowling MN, Gallagher CL, et al.Participation in cognitively-stimulating activities is associated with brain structure and cognitive function in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.Brain Imaging Behav. 2015 Dec;9(4):729-36. doi:10.1007/s11682-014-9329-5

Sydenham E, Dangour A, Wee-Shiong L.Omega 3 fatty acid for the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia.Cochrane Database Syst. 2012 Jun 13;(6):CD005379. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005379

Tarumi T, Rossetti H, Thomas B, Harris T, Tseng BY, Turner M, et al.Exercise rtaining in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: A one-year randomized controlled trial.J Alzheimers Dis. 2019;71(2):421-433. doi:10.3233/JAD-181175

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