
Eating this breakfast daily can lower Alzheimer's risk by almost half and boost brain health
A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition, based on the exclusive data collected from their research sample, suggests that eating more than one egg per week may significantly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia among older adults.
What is Alzheimer's?
According to the National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, which is a brain disorder that slowly destroys a person's memory and thinking skills.
Its symptoms include: Loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and even reasoning. It is common for some people to have more than two types of dementia. For example, some people have both Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.
Inside the study: Exploring the link between
egg consumption
and
brain health
The research titled '
Association of Egg Intake with Alzheimer's Dementia Risk in Older Adults:
The Rush Memory and Aging Project' tracked over 1,024 adults (average age came out to be 81.4%), all initially indicating they were free from dementia, for over 7 years.
Their dietary patterns were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and cognitive outcomes were monitored annually. By the end of the study, a total of 280 participants had developed Alzheimer's dementia. But those who consumed eggs more than once per week had almost 50% lower risk compared to those who had fewer eggs.
Why eggs? What makes them brain-friendly?
Through this research, one major factor that stuck out appears to be choline. Choline is an essential nutrient found in high amounts in eggs.
It is a simple nutrient that helps the brain and body work properly. Now, remember it is not a vitamin, but it acts like one. The body makes a small amount of choline even on its own, but most of it has to come from food. Apart from assisting in brain health, Choline also reduces inflammation, regulates mood and mental health, supports muscle function, and even assists in fat metabolism.
Animal-based sources of Choline:
Eggs (especially the yolk)
Fish (like salmon and tuna)
Chicken or turkey
Milk and other dairy products
Alzheimer's risk and neuropathology
While conducting this much-needed research, the researchers also performed brain autopsies on 578 participants who had passed away. The analysis was shocking; it examined the signs of Alzheimer's pathology in the brain, and participants who had consumed more than one egg per week showed:
Fewer amyloid plaques:
Protein build-ups known to have a link with Alzheimers'
Fewer Neurofibrillary tangles
: Twisted-fiber-like components inside the brain cells that disrupt brain function and lead to cognitive decline.
What was the conclusion according to the researchers?
These findings suggest that frequent egg consumption is associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's dementia and AD pathology, and the association with Alzheimer's dementia is partially mediated through dietary choline. As scientists continue to unravel the hidden mysteries of our food consumption with our brain health, it has become quite evident that studies like this underscore the potential of simple, readily available food options that can support brain health.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Aneet Padda's role in Saiyaara sparks debate, can you really get Alzheimer's at 22? Doctors break down the rare condition
When audiences walked into theatres expecting a tragic love story, they were hit with something deeper, an emotional ride that explored memory loss, love, and the cruel twist of early-onset Alzheimer's. Directed by Mohit Suri, Saiyaara stars Ahaan Panday as Krish Kapoor, a struggling musician, and Aneet Padda as Vaani Batra, a quiet aspiring journalist. Their story takes a turn when Vaani begins forgetting basic things, first small details, then entire conversations. In one of the film's pivotal moments, Vaani collapses and is rushed to the hospital. When asked by doctors, she can't recall her brother's age or the date. She is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, a rare but real condition. How accurate is Saiyaara's portrayal of Alzheimer's? While the film has opened conversations around the disease, neurologists say its depiction is far from medical reality. Dr. Sunil Singla, Head of Neurology at Shalby Sanar Hospital, says, 'Early-onset Alzheimer's is diagnosed in people under 65, but cases in someone as young as 22, like Vaani, are extremely rare.' Dr. Kaustubh Mahajan from PD Hinduja Hospital adds that such cases may occur only due to rare genetic mutations: 'It's called early-onset Alzheimer's dementia. If it's seen in the 20s, it's extremely rare and likely genetically linked to mutations like APP or TSEN.' What are the actual symptoms of Alzheimer's? In the film, Vaani experiences dizziness, fainting, and sudden memory loss after emotional trauma. But experts say these are dramatised for cinematic effect. Real early Alzheimer's symptoms, as listed by the NHS, typically include: Difficulty remembering recent events or conversations Misplacing everyday objects Repeating questions Struggling to find words Trouble with decision-making Hesitation in trying new tasks Dr. Singla explains, 'Symptoms like fainting or instant memory loss after seeing someone are not typical of Alzheimer's. These scenes are dramatised to serve the film's narrative.' Experts call it 'exaggerated,' but conversation-worthy One key scene shows Vaani forgetting the last six months after a sudden emotional trigger—a plot twist neurologists say doesn't align with medical evidence. Dr. Singla remarked, 'They've exaggerated it for the sake of storytelling. Alzheimer's doesn't progress this fast, especially in someone that young.' He further added, 'Depression can be an early sign of dementia, but Alzheimer's itself isn't triggered by emotional shocks. These are more 'masala' elements.' Despite the medical inaccuracies, doctors and critics alike agree the film plays a vital role—it gets people talking about memory health.


Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Bruce Willis can't speak, read, and walk. Here's what happened to the 'Die Hard' actor
Synopsis Bruce Willis, the celebrated actor of 'Die Hard' fame, is reportedly battling a severe decline due to frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The 70-year-old star, who retired in 2022 following an aphasia diagnosis, has now lost the ability to speak, read, and walk. This heartbreaking progression of FTD requires him to have full-time care, and he no longer remembers his illustrious career. Bruce Willis (File photo) Legendary actor Bruce Willis, known for iconic roles in Die Hard , The Sixth Sense , and Pulp Fiction , is facing a severe health decline. Recent reports reveal that the 70-year-old star can no longer speak, read, or walk due to the rapid progression of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a degenerative brain disease. Willis retired from acting in 2022 after being diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that affects communication. In early 2023, his family confirmed that his condition had progressed into FTD, a more serious neurological disorder that gradually erodes speech, motor functions, and behavior. FTD affects the brain's frontal and temporal lobes — areas responsible for language, movement, and emotional regulation. As the disease worsens, individuals lose their ability to communicate, recognize words, or perform simple physical tasks. Once known for his sharp wit and physicality on screen, Willis now requires full-time care. He can no longer hold conversations, walk unaided, or recall his past — including his own successful film career. His family, who has remained by his side throughout, has asked for privacy as they navigate this challenging time. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) typically develops between the ages of 45 and 64 and is often misdiagnosed, either as a psychiatric disorder or as Alzheimer's disease. Unlike Alzheimer's, which primarily affects memory in the early stages, FTD begins with noticeable changes in personality, behavior, or language skills. Early signs may include difficulty finding the right words, changes in mood, or impulsive and socially inappropriate behavior. As the condition progresses, individuals may lose the ability to speak, read, or write. Muscle control also deteriorates, eventually making basic movement and swallowing difficult. In the advanced stages, patients often require constant, round-the-clock Willis's diagnosis has brought global attention to this lesser-known form of dementia. Medical experts emphasize the value of early detection, speech and physical therapy, and strong emotional and caregiving support networks to help manage the disease's to the Mayo Clinic, FTD occurs when parts of the brain's frontal and temporal lobes shrink — a process known as atrophy. The symptoms vary depending on which region is most affected. Some people may become emotionally detached, impulsive, or socially inappropriate, while others struggle to form coherent sentences or lose the ability to speak accounts for roughly 10% to 20% of all dementia cases and often goes unrecognized due to its early onset and atypical symptoms. While memory problems usually appear much later, initial symptoms can include: Behavioral and personality changes – acting impulsively, losing empathy, neglecting hygiene, overeating, or showing lack of motivation Language difficulties – speaking slowly, using words incorrectly, or struggling with sentence structure Cognitive challenges – issues with focus, planning, or organizing tasks Physical symptoms (in later stages) – stiff or slowed movement, difficulty swallowing, loss of bladder or bowel control, and muscle weakness


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Covid-19 pandemic sped up brain aging, says study
Covid-19 pandemic sped up brain aging, says study A new study has found that living through the COVID-19 pandemic aged people's brains, regardless of whether people were infected. The research adds to growing data about the pandemic's long-term impact on global health and brain development. The study showed that the pandemic accelerated brain aging by 5.5 months on average. Changes were most noticeable in older people, men, and in those from more disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. Brain age relates to cognitive function and can differ from a person's actual age. Someone's brain age can be delayed or advanced by diseases like diabetes, HIV, and Alzheimer's disease. Premature brain aging can affect memory, sensory function, and emotional function. The authors say the brain aging they observed may be reversible. "The pandemic put a strain on people's lives, especially those already facing disadvantages. We can't yet test whether the changes we saw will reverse, but it's certainly possible, and that's an encouraging thought," said the study's senior author Dorothee Auer, a neuroscientist at University of Nottingham, UK. Frank Slack, Director of HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine and the Cancer Research Institute at Harvard Medical School, US, said the "work is a tour de force showing in a large population that COVID had severe effects on brain health, especially in males and the elderly." Slack was not involved in the study. Did the pandemic affect people's brain function? The study aimed to investigate the adverse effects ofCOVID-19on physical and cognitive brain aging using brain imaging and cognitive testing. The researchers analySed brain scans from healthy adults taken before and after the pandemic as part of the UK Biobank study. "[This] gave us a rare window to observe how major life events can affect the brain," said Stamatios Sotiropoulos, a neuroscientist at University of Nottingham and the study's co-lead author. First, the researchers used brain scan data from 15,334 healthy people to train a machine learning algorithm that could accurately estimate their brain age. They then used the model to predict the brain age of 996 healthy adults before and after the COVID pandemic.\ One group of participants had scans before and after the pandemic began, while a comparison group only had their scans taken before the outbreak. The pandemic aged people's brains, even those without COVID infection The study revealed that the brains of participants from the pandemic group had aged an average 5.5 months faster than the control group, even when matched for a range of health markers. Jacobus Jansen, a neuroscientist at Maastricht UMC, Netherlands, said the surprising result was that "aging is independent of actual COVID-19 infection." However, only participants who were infected by COVID-19 showed a drop in cognitive abilities like mental flexibility and processing speed. This may suggest that the pandemic's brain aging effect without infection may not cause noticeable cognitive symptoms. The next question researchers are aiming to answer is how the pandemic had long-term effects on people's cognitive health. Other studies have suggested certain genetic factors could make some people more predisposed to COVID-related brain aging. "[In 2022], we described premature aging in the brains of severe COVID. Unfortunately, all of the patients we examined had passed away from COVID, precluding detailed follow-up and analysis of brain architecture over time," Slack said. "It will be interesting to start to ask whether the aging effects seen in this study are related to the gene expression changes we saw in our study," Slack said. Can you reverse brain aging? Neuroscience studies suggest there are ways to slow down brain aging and reduce the risks of cognitive decline. Exercise, for example, is a known protective factor in brain aging, which is why "it would be valuable to assess the contribution of changes in exercise patterns during the pandemic, alongside psychological stress, within their model," said Maria Mavrikaki, a neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School, US, who was not involved in the study. Other studies suggest that brain aging can be slowed down by lifestyle changes like eating a healthy diet, staying physically and mentally active, managing stress, and getting adequate sleep promotes healthy brain aging. These small changes can add up, so making them part of your routine can support your brain function in the future.