A study published in JAMA Network Open showed that the consumption of six additional servings of flavanoid-rich foods and drinks may decrease the risk of dementia by 28%.
In a sample including over 120,000 adults, scientists found that the benefits of flavonoid-rich foods were more pronounced in individuals with a high genetic risk of developing dementia, as well as individuals with depression and hypertension.

Authors used a prospective, population-based cohort study including data from 121,986 adults aged 40-70 to investigate the relationship between dietary flavonoid intake and dementia risk.

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds found in plant-derived foods and beverages, such as vegetables, fruits, dark chocolate and red wine. Authors developed a “flavodiet score”, calculated by assessing the intake of green and black tea, red wine, apples, berries, grapes, oranges, grapefruit, sweet peppers, onions, and dark chocolate.

Authors found that the consumption of six additional servings of flavonoid-rich foods per day, specifically tea, red wine and berries, was associated with a lower risk of dementia.
Scientists found that the benefits of flavonoid-rich foods were more pronounced in individuals with a high genetic risk of developing dementia, as well as individuals with depression and hypertension.

The greatest reductions in dementia risk were observed in the context of the consumption of at least two the following: 5 servings of black tea per day, 1 serving of red wine per day, and 0.5 servings of berries per day.

Dietary flavonoids have been suggested to mediate neuroprotective effects through their ability to modulate neuroinflammation, and neural pathways associated with synaptic plasticity.“