Apple A Day May Keep Dementia Away

Apple products may protect against cell damage that contributes to age-related memory loss, according to a new animal study.

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Lowell report that apple juice protected the memory of test animals even if they weren't already prone to developing Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

"This new study suggests that eating and drinking apples and apple juice, in conjunction with a balanced diet, can protect the brain from the effects of oxidative stress—and that we should eat such antioxidant-rich foods," notes lead researcher Thomas B. Shea.

The study, supported by the U.S. Apple Association and the Apple Products Research and Education Council, was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.