Flavonols to Slow Cognitive Decline?

January 17, 2023 Tim Aging & Health Comments Off on Flavonols to Slow Cognitive Decline?
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A new research study[1] suggests that eating more flavonols, antioxidants found in many vegetables, fruits, tea, and wine, may delay the speed of memory loss. They play a huge role in stimulating cell growth, fighting environmental stress, and drawing insects for pollination.

Tea - Tea is a healthy drink, low in calories and loaded with nutrients
Tea is just one source of flavonols.

What are Flavonols

Flavonols are polyphenols that belong to the flavonoid family. Also known as 3-hydroxylamines, flavonols are the most widespread flavonoids in plant food. They are colorless molecules that compile primarily in the outer and aerial tissues of plants and plant products and work as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and vasodilatation effects.

They also have been deemed possible anticancer agents and regulate various cellular signaling pathways. The most familiar flavonols found in foods include quercetin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, and myricetin. All of these flavonoids have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The amount of flavonols present in a dish is discreetly associated with the preparation of that dish—processed foods have fewer flavanols.

All restoration, regeneration, and detox processes in the body need flavonols. Eating fruits and vegetables of different colors will help supply your body with the flavonols to stay healthy. Getting 400 to 600 milligrams of flavanols per day is recommended to support your health and avoid cardiovascular diseases.

What was the Goal of the Research Study?

Research done in the past examined the connection between cognition and flavonoids: bioactive found in foods that contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This research was expanded by analyzing the relations of dietary intakes of total flavonols and constituents (kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin, isorhamnetin) on the change in cognitive performance in global cognition, episodic memory, semantic memory, perceptual speed, visuospatial ability, and working memory.

Vegetables are a source of water - most have a very high water content by weight, so eating a salad is also helping you stay hydrated
Fruits and vegetables are another source of flavonols.

What were the Research Methods of the Study?

The study was conducted using 961 participants (60-100 years) with no signs of dementia to fill out a food questionnaire each year for an average of 6.9 years. Diet was evaluated using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Flavonol intake was examined as a continuous variable using linear mixed-effects models.

Cognitive domain scores were regressed on baseline calorie-adjusted flavonol variables. The participants were divided into groups based on their daily intake of flavanols. The study examined the effect of the four significant flavonols—kaempferol, myricetin, quercetin, and isorhamnetin—on the rate of cognitive degeneration over seven years.

The lowest intake was about 5 milligrams a day, while the highest was 15 milligrams a day—equal to almost a cup of dark leafy greens. Additionally, the participants underwent yearly cognitive and memory tests and were questioned with a battery of 19 standardized tests on their time spent being physically and mentally active.

What were the Results and Conclusions of the Findings?

Though inconclusive, the result of the study tells that higher dietary intake of total flavonols and flavonol constituents was linked to a slower rate of decline in global cognition and numerous cognitive domains. A few randomized controlled trials have shown benefits associated with flavonols for regulating blood sugar in type 2 diabetes and enhancing cardiovascular health, according to the Linus Pauling Institute, home to the Micronutrient Information Center, an online database for nutrition information.

“There are other bioactive that may contribute to the observed outcomes,” said Dr. David Katz, a preventive and lifestyle medicine and nutrition specialist who was not involved in the study. “Supplemental studies are required to isolate flavonoid effects fully.” There’s also a disadvantage to assuming a health impact without the necessary studies to back it up, said Dr. Christopher Gardner, a research professor of medicine and director of the Nutrition Studies Research Group at Stanford University.

Most vegetables are a low GI (Glycemic Index) food.
Dark, leafy greens might be your best source of flavonols.

Recommendations for Fitness Trainees Based on the Research

“Something as simple as eating more fruits and vegetables and drinking more tea is an easy way for people to take an active role in maintaining their brain health. Flavonols are cytoprotective, meaning they protect cells, including neurons, so it’s plausible there could be a direct impact on cognition,” said Dr. David Katz.

References:

1. “Association of Dietary Intake of Flavonols With Changes in Global Cognition and Several Cognitive Abilities” Thomas Monroe Holland, Puja Agarwal, Yamin Wang, Klodian Dhana, Sue E. Leurgans, Kyla Shea, Sarah L Booth, Kumar Rajan, Julie A. Schneider, Lisa L. Barnes Neurology Nov 2022, 10.1212/WNL.0000000000201541; DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000201541

2. “Slow cognitive decline with flavonols, study says”

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