Eating grapes on a daily basis would prevent metabolic decline in the region of the brain affected by Alzheimer’s, according to a study.
There are many ways to try to prevent Alzheimer’s disease – have a healthy lifestyle, stimulate your intellect … and eat grapes, according to a study published in the journal Experimental Gerontology, which highlights the benefits of this fruit on the cognitive system.
According to the researchers at the University of California, consuming grapes twice a day for six months prevents the metabolic decline seen in parts of the brain affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
A metabolic effect
The work focused on people with mild cognitive decline in the early stages. The first group consumed a powder made from whole grapes, in amounts equivalent to two and a half cups of bunches per day. The second group, meanwhile, received for placebo a powder without polyphenol, this organic molecule contained in the grape.
After six months of this diet, the cognitive performances of the two groups were evaluated thanks to tests and “PET scanners”, an imaging method which makes it possible to measure the metabolic activity of an organ.
The researchers were able to observe normal metabolic functioning in the brain area of the participants in the first group. Those in the second group, on the other hand, exhibited cognitive decline characterized by low metabolic activity in this area, suggesting an unfavorable course of the disease.
In addition, the grape-enriched diet was associated with metabolic improvements in another brain region involved in cognition and memory.
The benefits of polyphenols
Polyphenols in grapes have anti-inflammatory properties and are antioxidants, which have a protective effect on the brain. The literature suggests that this effect is at the origin of a reduction in oxidative stress and a better blood flow in this organ.
“This pilot study is in addition to work demonstrating the benefits of grapes for neurological and cardiovascular health, although further clinical studies including larger groups are needed to confirm the results we have observed,” the researchers conclude.
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