People with high levels of antioxidants in their blood may be less likely to develop dementia, according to a study published online in neurology, the May 4, 2022 Medical Journal of the American Academy of Neurology The study found that the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin in the blood β- People with the highest levels of cryptoxanthin are less likely to develop dementia decades later than those with lower levels of antioxidants
Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, broccoli, summer melon and pea. β- Cryptoxanthin is found in fruits such as oranges, mangoes, papaya, oranges, peaches and persimmons.
The authors of the study "Prolonging people's cognitive function is an important public health challenge. Antioxidants may help protect the brain from oxidative stress, which can lead to cell damage. Further research is needed to test whether adding these antioxidants can help protect the brain from dementia," said Dr. may a. beydoun of the National Institutes of health in Baltimore, Maryland
It is reported that the study covered 7283 people at least 45 years old at the beginning of the study. At the beginning of the study, they underwent physical examinations, interviews and blood tests for antioxidant levels. The researchers followed them for an average of 16 years.
Participants were divided into three groups according to the level of antioxidants in the blood. People with the highest levels of lutein and zeaxanthin are less likely to develop dementia than those with lower levels. Each increase in lutein and zeaxanthin levels by one standard deviation (about 15.4 μ g / dl) reduced the risk of dementia by 7%. about β- Cryptoxanthin, whose level increases by one standard deviation (about 8.6 μ g / dl), reduces the risk of dementia by 14%.
"It is worth noting that when we consider other factors such as education, income and physical activity, the impact of these antioxidants on the risk of dementia is reduced, so these factors may help explain the relationship between antioxidant levels and dementia," beydoun said
However, one limitation of the study is that antioxidant levels are based on a measurement of blood levels, which may not reflect people's levels in a lifetime.