Berries May Protect Against Parkinson's

Can those blueberries in your breakfast cereal help stave off Parkinson's disease? New research says yes.

A study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that men and women who regularly eat berries may have a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a statement from the American Academy of Neurology, which announced the results Monday.

What's more, men may further lower their risk by regularly eating oranges, apples, and other foods rich in flavonoids, dietary components found in citrus fruits, berries, and chocolate.

"This is the first study in humans to examine the association between flavonoids and risk of developing Parkinson's disease," study author Dr. Xiang Gao, Ph.D., with the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, said in the statement. "Our findings suggest that flavonoids, specifically a group called anthocyanins, may have neuroprotective effects. If confirmed, flavonoids may be a natural and healthy way to reduce your risk of developing Parkinson's disease."

The study involved 49,281 men and 80,336 women, who were given questionnaires and followed for 20 to 22 years. Researchers used a database to calculate flavonoid intake and analyzed the association between flavonoid intake and risk of developing Parkinson's disease. They also analyzed consumption of tea, berries, apples, red wine, and oranges or orange juice, five major sources of flavonoid-rich foods.

During the study, 805 people developed Parkinson's disease. In men, the top 20 percent who consumed the most flavonoids were about 40 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's disease than the bottom 20 percent of male participants who consumed the least amount of flavonoids, according to the AAN statement. In women, there was no relationship between overall flavonoid consumption and developing Parkinson's disease. However, when sub-classes of flavonoids were examined, regular consumption of anthocyanins, which are mainly obtained from berries, were found to be associated with a lower risk of Parkinson's disease in both men and women.

The study will be presented at the AAN annual meeting in Honolulu in April.