Based on new findings in Neurology, people with the highest levels of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin in the blood are at a lower risk of dementia.
Over 7,000 participants at least 45 years of age were included at the beginning of the research. Each participant was followed for an average span of 16 years.
“The study found that people with the highest levels of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin in their blood were less likely to develop dementia decades later than people with lower levels of the antioxidants,” according to a news release of the study.
“Antioxidants may help protect the brain from oxidative stress, which can cause cell damage. Further studies are needed to test whether adding these antioxidants can help protect the brain from dementia,” said one co-author of the study.
The findings were published May 4, 2022.
