Flavonoids Could Prevent Alzheimer’s, Parkinsons

Compounds found in berries and other foods offer multiple benefits for the brain

Berries Couleur/Pixabay

Neurodegenerative conditions from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)—currently affect at least 6 million people in the United States alone.

There is not yet a solid treatment to slow or block these disorders from developing or progressing, but a review from June 2019 probed the impact of flavonoids, plant compounds that boast multiple biological activities on age-related changes in the brain contributing to neurodegeneration.

The Flavonoid Factor

Several epidemiological studies highlight the potential benefits of flavonoids in preventing this group of disorders. There are more than 5,000 flavonoids and they can be divided into six groups, namely flavones, flavonols, flavanones, flavanols, anthocyanins, and isoflavones.