This food is excellent after 70 years, it reduces the risk of dementia

Dementia covers several diseases that affect memory, memories and the ability to carry out daily tasks. The most common form is Alzheimer’s disease, representing 70% of cases. The risk worsens with age and mainly affects people over 65-70 years old. However, it is not an inevitable condition and many people age without developing dementia, in particular thanks to maintaining regular physical activity, cognitive activity, as well as a healthy and balanced diet.

In a study published in the journal Nutrients In 2024, Chinese researchers randomly recruited 233 participants with dementia and 233 healthy participants to examine their dietary intake over the past two years. The participants were on average 74 years old and 65% of them were women. At the end of their follow-up, the researchers discovered that the risk of developing dementia was reduced in people who regularly consumed eggs. Compared to people who ate 2 eggs a day, those who ate only once a week had on average twice the risk of developing dementia over their lifetime and those who ate only once a month had 4 times more likely to have dementia.

Great “neuroprotectors” and “nerve balancers”, eggs have a very interesting nutritional profile: they are rich in folic acid, vitamin D, iodine, B vitamins and high-quality proteins, particularly beneficial for seniors who have tendency to show muscle loss. “They are a natural functional food because they contain highly bioavailable carotenoids (antioxidants), such as lutein and zeaxanthin, and other nutrients, including nutraceuticals known to protect against chronic diseases“, explain the researchers. But above all it is an excellent source of “choline”: a large egg provides a third of our recommended daily needs, an essential nutrient for brain health and memory preservation.

Integrated into a varied, balanced diet rich in plants, eggs therefore seem to protect against dementia, the researchers conclude. You should also not overdo it and not exceed two eggs per day (i.e. 14 per week) in seniors without cardiovascular problems. People suffering from high cholesterol or diabetes are advised to seek advice from their doctor about how many eggs they can eat each week.