Now, keep up to date
with daily feeds of newly posted stories
about America's Seniors...click on the box
to the left
Resources for caregivers, families and those
living with Alzheimer’s…click here for
savings and values from the line of
products from Amazon.
An apple
a day for Alzheimer's? Research indicates
apples might prevent brain damage, fight
Alzheimer’s
(Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research
Foundation) -- We've all heard the saying,
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Now,
new scientific research shows just how
important the apple may be.
Food scientists believe the magic ingredient
in apples is a plant pigment called
quercetin. This natural substance is a
disease-fighting antioxidant that protects
cells throughout the body, including the
brain.
Past studies suggest that getting plenty of
quercetin, abundant in the everyday apple,
may protect the heart and blood vessels and
possibly protect against cancer. This latest
research points to quercetin as a potent
protector of brain cells that may fight the
devastating memory decline of Alzheimer's
disease.
"On the basis of serving size, fresh apples
have some of the highest levels of quercetin
when compared to other fruits and vegetables
and may be among the best food choices for
fighting Alzheimer's," says study leader
Chang Y. Lee, who has been studying the
benefits of apples and other foods for some
20 years. "People should eat more apples,
especially fresh ones."
Quercetin is abundant in the flesh and
especially the skins of all types of fresh
apples, from red delicious to Granny
Smith's.
Processed foods like applesauce or apple
juice may not be as rich in the
brain-protecting substance because they may
omit the quercetin-rich skins. In addition
to quercetin, apples likely contain a medley
of additional substances important for
health and well-being.
In this latest research, Lee and his
colleagues exposed rat brain cells to
varying amounts of quercetin or vitamin C, a
well-established antioxidant and disease
fighter.
The brain cells were then exposed to
hydrogen peroxide, a substance that can
mimic some of the kinds of cell damage that
occurs in the brains of those with
Alzheimer's disease.
The cells that had been treated with
quercetin showed significantly less damage
than the vitamin-C treated cells or brain
cells that did not get any antioxidant
protection.
Scientists are not sure exactly how the
quercetin in apples protects brain cells in
the lab, although its antioxidant effects
are thought to neutralize cell-damaging
compounds called
free radicals
.
Other foods that are rich in quercetin, such
as onions, blueberries, cranberries, and
tea, may also afford protection against
Alzheimer's. Indeed, another recent study
reported that drinking tea may also have
benefits for the brain and memory. [See the
alzinfo.org story at
http://www.alzinfo.org/news/NewsArticle10-28-2004-11-54-AM.aspx
] Quercetin is also sold in nutritional
supplements. The apple, however, remains at
the top of the list when it comes to natural
sources for disease-fighting quercetin.
Will an apple a day indeed keep Alzheimer's
at bay? Nobody knows for sure. It's a long
way from brain cells in the lab to the
multi-faceted world of living people.
Nutrition experts agree, however, that
apples are an excellent addition to any
healthful diet. Much more research on
animals and people is needed to unravel the
mysteries of the brain and the possible
benefits of foods like the apple. Genetics
and many environmental factors likely have
an influence on who develops a complex
illness like Alzheimer's, and likely many
factors interact to help keep the brain
alert and functioning well.
The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Foundation
continues to fund groundbreaking research
into the causes of Alzheimer's, a disease
that is estimated to strike tens of millions
of baby boomers in the coming years. For
more on how the Fisher Center is searching
for a cure, visit alzinfo.org, the
Alzheimer's Information Site, at
www.alzinfo.org
... ..
...
...
