DRESDEN, Germany – An apple a day keeps the doctor away, especially when it comes to dementia. According to an international study, the famous healthy fruit is rich in chemicals that stimulate neurons, which improve learning and memory.
Experiments on mice found that gray matter increased after being injected phytonutrients, such as flavonoids, which are abundant in fruits and vegetables. The effects were similar to those seen after exercise, which can also increase brain function.
According to the author, Professor Gerd Kempermann, of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, these dietary compounds are ‘essential for the maintenance of cognitive functions’.
“It can have positive effects on various parts of the body – including the brain,” Kempermann said in a statement to SWNS.
How does the brain strengthen these substances?
These antioxidants suppress inflammation and strengthen the immune system. Researchers extracted stem cells from the brains of laboratory rodents and cultured in petri dishes. After apple extracts such as quercetin or DHBA (dihydroxybezoic acid) were added, more neurons grew and fewer died.
“High concentrations of phytonutrients in apples stimulate the generation of new neurons – a process called neurogenesis,” explains Kempermann.
The results, published in Stem Cell Reports, was then confirmed in trials with real mice. Stem cells multiply and produce more neurons after the scientists added high doses of quercetin or DHBA.
It specifically applies to various structures in the adult brain, including the hippocampus, which are essential for memory, learning and navigation.
“Apples contain pro-neurogenic compounds in both their skin and their flesh,” authors write in their report.
Quercetin is located in the peel of the apple. The pigment gives color to the fruit and belongs to the flavonoid family. DHBA is a natural preservative not associated with flavonoids. It is responsible for giving fruit its distinctive aroma. However, both chemicals work in similar ways and protect cells by destroying harmful free radicals.
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” There may be some truth in this aphorism, “researchers write.” In addition to being a source of energy, it is known to affect the overall fitness of food. An increasing number of studies have examined the health benefits of phytochemicals, the chemical substances present in plants. ‘
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These substances include resveratrol in red grapes and EGCG (epigallo-catechin-3-gallate) in green tea. Previous studies have found that they are associated with reducing the risk of diseases such as cancer, heart disease and dementia. Researchers believe that quercetin and DHBA act in combination to promote neurogenesis and brain function when consumed in large quantities.
“The effects were similar to those seen after exercise – a well-known stimulus for neurogenesis,” Kempermann told SWNS.
When the mice received apple juice, the authors of the study say that there was no benefit to the health of the brain as it contained smaller amounts of the beneficial ingredients. The findings may have implications for protection against Alzheimer’s disease. There is no cure in sight for the degenerative condition, but there is a greater focus on lifestyle factors that can help stop or delay its onset.
“As mammals evolved with exposure to specific diets, of course, there were many abundant compounds that became part of the environmental co-determinants that shaped the brain structure and function,” write authors of the study.
“Future studies will be needed to determine if these and other phytonutrients can improve learning and cognitive function in animal models – and in humans -” Kempermann adds.
SWNS author Mark Waghorn contributed to this report.