Late-life dementia is a growing public health concern lacking effective treatment. Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease develop over a preclinical period of many years beginning in midlife. The prevalence of insulin resistance, a prominent risk factor for late-life dementia, also accelerates in middle-age. Consumption of berry fruits, including strawberries, has been shown to influence metabolism as well as cognitive performance suggesting potential to mitigate risk for dementia. In a new study, scientists at the University of Cincinnati enrolled overweight middle-aged men and women with insulin resistance and subjective cognitive decline and performed a 12-week intervention with daily administration of whole-fruit strawberry powder. Their findings support the notion that strawberry supplementation has a role in dementia risk reduction when introduced in midlife.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, accounting for up to 80% of cases, and current projections indicate that AD will reach epidemic proportions during the next several years.
Paralleling the increase in dementia prevalence is an equally disturbing rise in metabolic disturbance reflected in insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, obesity, and related health conditions associated with late-life dementia.
There is no remedy for dementia, and it is not clear when or if effective therapy will be available.
Accordingly, prevention and mitigation of risk have been increasingly emphasized.
“Both strawberries and blueberries contain antioxidants called anthocyanins, which have been implicated in a variety of berry health benefits such as metabolic and cognitive enhancements,” said University of Cincinnati’s Professor Robert Krikorian.
“There is epidemiological data suggesting that people who consume strawberries or blueberries regularly have a slower rate of cognitive decline with aging.”
“In addition to containing anthocyanins, strawberries contain…
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