Pomegranate season, eating a lot of pomegranates can increase memory, reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease?

It’s pomegranate season. Many people believe that pomegranates have many benefits, especially helping to improve memory and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Is this true?

Pomegranate - Photo: illustration

Ms. NTP, 46 years old, living in Binh Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, said that recently when she went to the market, she saw many ripe pomegranates for sale. At this age, she started to forget things. Hearing people say that pomegranates help improve memory, especially reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, she took the opportunity to buy pomegranates to eat every day.

Foods that are good for healthy brain function

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , Dr. Nguyen Kim Ngan, from the examination department of Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Traditional Medicine, said that forgetfulness can be a normal part of the aging process, when changes including oxidative damage and inflammatory reactions occur in the brain.

Mild forgetfulness and memory loss are among the top health concerns of middle-aged and older adults. Memory loss can begin as early as age 45.

Healthy lifestyle behaviors such as aerobic exercise, increasing mental activity, maintaining social activity, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, and a healthy diet are also recommended to improve memory and brain function.

One promising line of research, according to Dr. Ngan, has focused on foods that contain properties that are beneficial for healthy brain function. Researchers have found that many nutrients such as curcumin , sage, vitamin D , omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidant foods can help maintain cognitive function during aging.

Many studies show that pomegranates help increase memory.

Many studies show that using pomegranate juice can reduce stress, anxiety and depression, increase visual memory and information processing, short-term memory, improve cognition and action in middle-aged people and people with Alzheimer's.

In the study "Effects of Pomegranate Extract Supplementation on Physical and Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults 55-70 Years of Age: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial" by Grace Farhat et al. published in the Journal of the National Institutes of Health in 2025, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 86 participants who were assigned to take a capsule containing either pomegranate extract or placebo (maltodextrin) daily for 12 weeks.

Results showed significant improvements in cognitive reasoning in the pomegranate extract group, with notable trends toward improved short-term and working memory as well as improved ability to limit cognitive interference.

After pomegranate supplementation, significant improvements in cognitive function, including memory and executive function, have been reported in healthy individuals; in patients recovering from stroke or heart surgery; in people with mild cognitive impairment, and in older adults with memory problems.

Another study on berries and dietary flavonoids in relation to cognitive decline published in the Journal of the National Institutes of Health of the United States around the effects of berries such as strawberries, blueberries, oranges, tangerines ... suggested that women who consumed more berries and total flavonoids in berries seemed to slow cognitive aging by up to 2.5 years.

Drink 250ml of pomegranate juice every day to prevent the risk of brain aging.

According to Dr. Ngan, during the pomegranate ripening season from July to October, you can drink 250ml of pomegranate juice every day to increase brain activity and prevent the risk of brain aging.

In addition to pomegranates, some other fruits also have a positive effect on brain activity such as avocado, orange, tangerine, grapefruit, strawberry, apple, grape... These are also good choices, suitable for year-round use.

THUY DUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/mua-luu-chin-an-nhieu-trai-luu-co-the-tang-tri-nho-giam-nguy-co-mac-benh-alzheimer-20250827085321823.htm