Eat strawberries to protect your brain from Alzheimer’s, research says –

Scientists say that eating strawberries can help protect the brain from Alzheimer’s by reducing inflammation.

A research team led by Rush University in Chicago, Illinois has found that adults over the age of 65 who regularly eat fruit have less tau protein in their brains, which in higher concentrations can lead to debilitating diseases.

Strawberries are an important source of pelangonid, which is thought to be an anti-inflammatory. Others include raspberries, beans, plums and radishes.

The scientists cautioned, however, that the study was an observation, meaning they couldn’t prove whether the strawberries were actually protected from disease or some other factor.

The study, published last week in Alzheimer’s Diary, examined the brains of 575 deceased patients, with an average age of 91. No one had Alzheimer’s.

More than two decades before their deaths, each had completed an annual dietary survey that researchers could follow.

They also tested their cognitive abilities every year.

Autopsy results showed that the lowest tau protein concentration was observed in the group that ate the most strawberries.

The study authors also said they found no association between tau protein levels and those with the APOE-4 gene, which is thought to increase disease risk.

Dr. Neuropathologist Julie Schneider, who led the paper, explained the findings: “We suspect that the anti-inflammatory properties of pelargonidine may reduce overall neuroinflammation, which can reduce cytokine production.”

Cytokines are proteins produced by cells that can trigger an inflammatory response.

Inflammation in the brain can be caused by many factors, including lack of sleep, infections, and extreme stress. These are also risk factors for the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Puja Agarwal, a nutritional epidemiologist who participated in the study, said it’s a “simple change” anyone can make to their diet.

But he also cautioned that the study was observational, meaning it wasn’t clear whether strawberries reduced risk.

“More research is needed to understand the role of diet in Alzheimer’s,” he said, “but this study gives us hope for how certain food components, such as strawberries, can help brain health.”

Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating condition that affects more than 6.5 million Americans. By 2050, this figure is expected to more than double.

Early symptoms include difficulty remembering recent events or conversations or where something was left off.

However, in later stages, patients may repeat themselves or repeatedly ask questions, get lost in familiar places, and have trouble finding the right words to describe objects.