Study: Increasing Antioxidants Might Lower Risk of Alzheimer's, Other Dementias

People who already suffer from mild cognitive impairment might be able to lower their risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia by increasing their intake of antioxidants, according to a study reported in the November issue of Neurobiology and Aging.

Antioxidant vitamins include E, C and beta carotene.

Researchers from the University of Perugia in Italy assessed the levels and activities of a broad spectrum of antioxidants in 25 elderly subjects with mild cognitive impairment, 63 Alzheimer's disease patients and 53 healthy individuals who served as a control group.

The researchers found that the levels and activities of antioxidants were lower in those suffering from mild cognitive impairment and from Alzheimer's disease as compared to those in the control group.

The researchers noted that mild cognitive impairment may represent a preliminary stage of Alzheimer's disease and that oxidative damage appears to occur early in Alzheimer's disease.

Other sources: Neurobiology and Aging. 2003 Nov;24(7):915-9