Apples 'can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's'

An apple a day can keep the Alzheimer's away. A new study has found that the popular fruit contains protective antioxidants which help in reducing the risk of dementia in people.

According to the study by researchers in the United States, not only apples, other fruits like oranges and bananas are important sources of vitamins, minerals and fibre which protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The researchers at the Cornell University came to the conclusion after investigating the effects of apple, banana, and orange extracts on neuron cells.

They found that the phenolic phytochemicals of the fruits prevented neurotoxicity on the cells. Among the three fruits, apples contained the highest content of protective antioxidants, followed by bananas then oranges. "Our study demonstrated that antioxidants in the major fresh fruits consumed in the United States and Korea protected neuronal cells from oxidative stress.

"Additional consumption of fresh fruits such as apple, banana, and orange may be beneficial to improve effects in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's," the researchers wrote in the 'Journal of Food Science'.

The study came just days after British scientists discovered the key to reversing the effects of dementia. The researchers at the University of Sunderland found that regular exposure to safe low-level, infra-red light could turn back the brain's biological clock and reverse the effects of memory loss.

In fact, their study showed that the treatment could improve learning performance and also kick-start the cognitive function of the brain, particularly in those suffering from gradual memory loss.