Flavonoid intake and disability-adjusted life years due to Alzheimer’s and related dementias: a population-based study involving twenty-three developed countries

Abstract

Objective: Dietary flavonoids and their metabolites may have neuroprotective effects against age-associated neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and related dementias (dementia). There is a lack of population studies, however, on correlations between flavonoid intake and dementia. The main objective of the present study was to analyse such a relationship at a large-scale population level. Design: Based on global data (FAO, WHO), databases were generated for: (i) flavonoid content of foods; (ii) per capita national dietary intakes of flavonoids and other dietary factors; and (iii) disability-adjusted life years -a measure of burden and death -due to dementia. Five major flavonoid subclasses were examined. To minimize influences due to accuracy and reliability of the disease source data, twenty-three developed countries were selected after statistical evaluation. Results: Flavonols and combined flavonoids (all five combined) intakes were the only two parameters with significant (P , 0?05) negative dementia correlations. Multiple linear regression models confirmed this relationship, and excluded confounding from some other dietary and non-dietary factors. Similar analyses with non-dementia, neurological/psychiatric diseases did not yield significant correlations. Conclusions: At a global level, and in the context of different genetic backgrounds, our results suggest that higher consumption of dietary flavonoids, especially flavonols, is associated with lower population rates of dementia in these countries.

Bioactive compounds from endemic plants of Southwest Portugal: Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and radical scavenging activities

“…The enormous economic and social costs of neurodegenerative disorders (Beking & Vieira, 2010;Wimo et al, 2011) in conjunction with the lack of any cure, make the development of new therapies for halting or reversing such diseases urgent. The present study strived to identify plant extracts demonstrating antioxidant and AChE inhibitory activities and serving as potential novel therapies for neurodegeneration.…”

Association Between Psychiatric Disorders and Iron Defi ciency Anemia Among Children And Adolescents: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

“…Phytochemical-rich foods, particularly those rich in flavonoids, have been shown to be effective in reversing age-related deficits in memory and learning [1][2][3][4][5][6]. In particular, studies using Camellia sinensis (tea) [7][8][9][10][11][12], Gingko Biloba [13][14][15], Theobroma cacao (cocoa) [16][17][18] and Vaccinium spp (blueberry) [19][20][21][22][23] have demonstrated beneficial effects on memory and learning in both humans and animal models.…”

The neuroprotective potential of phenolic-enriched fractions from four Juniperus species found in Portugal

“…These diseases are associated with enormous economic and social costs (Beking & Vieira, 2010;Wimo et al, 2011): it has been estimated that the European healthcare costs of for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in 2007 were €117 billion and that the number of cases are predicted to rise to 81.1 million by 2040 (Wimo et al, 2011). This, in conjunction with the lack of any cure, has made the development of new therapies for halting, retarding or reversing such disorders imperative.…”