Dietary Choline Associates With Reduced Risk of Dementia

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found dietary consumption of phosphatidylcholine is associated with a lower risk of dementia, reports ScienceDaily . Phosphatidylcholine also was connected to improved cognitive performance, with eggs and meat the chief dietary sources of the nutrient. Choline is needed for the formation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, with previous research suggesting sufficient choline intake may contribute to prevention of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's. The risk of dementia was found to be 28 percent lower in men with the highest intake of dietary phosphatidylcholine, compared to men with the lowest intake. Men who consumed the most dietary phosphatidylcholine also did well on memory and linguistic ability tests. The study accounted for other lifestyle and nutrition-related factors that could have explained the findings, as well as the APOE4 gene. APOE4, however, had no significant impact.