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Flavonoid-Rich Foods, Dementia Risk, and Interactions With Genetic Risk, Hypertension, and Depression
Jennings A, Thompson AS, Tresserra-Rimbau A, O'Neill JK, Hill C, Bondonno NP, et al.. JAMA Network Open, 2024-09-03
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Plain-language summary
Importance A composite score of flavonoid-rich foods (flavodiet) may provide a clear public health message regarding the range of foods with the potential to lower dementia risk. Objective To examine associations of flavodiet score and intakes of flavonoid subclasses with dementia risk according to genetic risk and presence of depression and hypertension. Design, setting, and participants This prospective, population-based cohort study included dietary data from adults aged 40 to 70 years in the UK Biobank, recruited between 2006 and 2010, with a mean (SD) follow-up of 9.2 (1.5) years. The data analyses were conducted from September 1 to 30, 2023. Exposure Flavodiet score adherence and intake of flavonoid subclasses derived from 24-hour computerized dietary assessments. Main outcome and measures The main outcome was incident all-cause dementia and interactions with genetic risk, hypertension, and depressive symptoms using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results The sample included 121 986 participants (mean [SD] age, 56.1 [7.8] years; 55.6% female; 882 with incident dementia). Comparing the highest with lowest quintile of flavodiet score, consuming 6 additional servings per day of flavonoid-rich foods was associated with a lower risk of dementia among all participants (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.72; 95% CI, 0.57-0.89), those at high genetic risk (AHR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.42-0.78), and those with depressive symptoms (AHR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33-0.81) after multivariable adjustment. The greatest risk reduction was observed in participants consuming at least 2 of the following per day: 5 servings of tea, 1 serving of red wine, and 0.5 servings of berries, compared with those who did not achieve any of these intakes (AHR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.46-0.84). Higher intakes of flavonoid subclasses, including anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, and flavones, of which tea, red wine, and berries are the main contributors, supported these findings, showing inverse associations with dementia risk. Conclusions and relevance In this cohort study, high adherence to a flavonoid-rich diet score was associated with a lower risk of dementia, with reductions more pronounced in individuals with a high genetic risk, hypertension, and depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that simple dietary changes of increasing intakes of commonly consumed flavonoid-rich foods and drinks may lower dementia risk.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Moderate
This is a follow-up (cohort) study of 121,986 participants. This UK Biobank cohort found that a higher flavonoid-rich food score was linked to lower dementia risk, including in people at high genetic risk. Reported effect size: AHR 0.72 (95% CI 0.57-0.89) for highest vs lowest flavodiet quintile.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Jennings, A., Thompson, A. S., Tresserra-Rimbau, A., O'Neill, J. K., Hill, C., Bondonno, N. P., et al. (2024). Flavonoid-Rich Foods, Dementia Risk, and Interactions With Genetic Risk, Hypertension, and Depression. JAMA Network Open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.34136
Vancouver
Jennings A, Thompson AS, Tresserra-Rimbau A, O'Neill JK, Hill C, Bondonno NP, et al. Flavonoid-Rich Foods, Dementia Risk, and Interactions With Genetic Risk, Hypertension, and Depression. JAMA Network Open. 2024. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.34136. PMID: 39292460.
BibTeX
@article{jennings2024-39292460,
author = {Jennings, A. and Thompson, A. S. and Tresserra-Rimbau, A. and O'Neill, J. K. and Hill, C. and Bondonno, N. P. and others},
title = {{Flavonoid-Rich Foods, Dementia Risk, and Interactions With Genetic Risk, Hypertension, and Depression}},
journal = {JAMA Network Open},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.34136},
pmid = {39292460},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.34136}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Results The sample included 121 986 participants (mean [SD] age, 56.1 [7.8] years; 55.6% female; 882 with incident dementia).
- Comparing the highest with lowest quintile of flavodiet score, consuming 6 additional servings per day of flavonoid-rich foods was associated with a lower risk of dementia among all participants (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 0.72; 95% CI, 0.57-0.89), those at high genetic risk (AHR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.42-0.78), and those with depressive symptoms (AHR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33-0.81) after multivariable adjustment.
- The greatest risk reduction was observed in participants consuming at least 2 of the following per day: 5 servings of tea, 1 serving of red wine, and 0.5 servings of berries, compared with those who did not achieve any of these intakes (AHR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.46-0.84).
- Higher intakes of flavonoid subclasses, including anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, and flavones, of which tea, red wine, and berries are the main contributors, supported these findings, showing inverse associations with dementia risk.
- Conclusions and relevance In this cohort study, high adherence to a flavonoid-rich diet score was associated with a lower risk of dementia, with reductions more pronounced in individuals with a high genetic risk, hypertension, and depressive symptoms.
Why it matters
This UK Biobank cohort found that a higher flavonoid-rich food score was linked to lower dementia risk, including in people at high genetic risk. Being observational, it shows an association and cannot prove that these foods prevent dementia.
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Study details
- Study designcohort
- Participants121,986
- Effect sizeAHR 0.72 (95% CI 0.57-0.89) for highest vs lowest flavodiet quintile
- Evidence strengthModerate
Limitations
Observational; the red-wine component sits uneasily with genetic evidence on alcohol; relatively few cases; healthy-volunteer cohort.
How this study scored 66/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for randomized / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on free to read, so that was left out: it earned 65 of the 98 points we could judge it on, which is 66 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (JAMA Network Open) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | JAMA Network Open: journal h-index 235 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2024 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 4 / 4 | 121,986 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 38 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.5 citations a year over 4 year(s) since 2024 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 10.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 38 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Aedín Cassidy: h-index 86 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Universitat de Barcelona: institution h-index 1,049 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 9 institution(s) in 5 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39292460) |
| Free to read | — / 2 | Access not recorded — left out of this score |
| Points | 65 / 98 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 65 of the 98 points we could judge it on is 66 out of 100. |
| Total | 66 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.34136
- PubMed: 39292460
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — PubMed Central lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
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