Tea, red wine, berries and even dark chocolate could help reduce the risk of dementia

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-09-19 01:00

Australia; International; WA

What does this mean?

Jump to: MultimediaAttachmentsExpert Reaction

Natural substances found in a range of deeply coloured foods are linked to a lower risk of dementia, according to international and Australian researchers who say this link is higher among those who are generally more at risk of developing the condition. Flavonoids, already known for various health benefits, are found in a range of fruits and vegetables including berries and leafy greens, as well as tea, red wine and dark chocolate. International researchers looked at the diets of over 120,000 adults aged 40 to 70 in the UK over nearly a decade, 882 of whom developed dementia during the study. They say those who consumed the highest amounts of flavonoid-rich foods, especially tea, red wine and berries, had a lower risk of dementia especially if they had a high genetic risk of dementia, high blood pressure or depressive symptoms. This type of study can't prove these foods caused the lower dementia rates, however the researchers say adding more of these foods into your diet could help.