Antioxidant Vitamin Intake and Risk of Alzheimer Disease

Abstract

ALZHEIMER DISEASE (AD) affects nearly 50% of people older than 85 years.^1,2 Although current treatments for AD have had modest success,³ measures to prevent or modify its development are needed. Measures that could delay the onset of AD by 5 years could halve its prevalence.⁴ This disease is a neurodegenerative process characterized by the deposition of amyloid β peptide in diffuse and neuritic plaques.^5,6 The generation of reactive oxygen species may increase the damage that deposition of amyloid β peptide exerts on the brain.⁷ Antioxidants available in foods or in supplement form may prevent these processes. In light of the potential protective effect of antioxidant vitamins against AD, the press has promoted their use to enhance cognitive function and prevent cognitive decline. Moreover, physicians may also be prescribing vitamins to patients on the basis of their putative protective effect against neurodegenerative diseases. We therefore analyzed data from the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project (WHICAP) to test the hypothesis that dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins is associated with a lower risk of AD.