The role of citrus in brain health: ‘Citrus bioactive compounds improve general cognition’
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Frontiers in Neuroscience, the new study showed that citrus polyphenols have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties – both important for protecting brain tissues from damage, for example, due to ageing or underlying health conditions.
The research, carried out by a team from the University of East Anglia, collated hundreds of studies that looked at the impact of citrus flavonoids on brain cells and nerves, as well as 10 studies in human populations.
“Having examined the available evidence, we are most confident in the finding that citrus bioactive compounds (i.e. nutrients and polyphenols) improve general cognition, both in healthy populations and people with age-related cognitive decline,” research author Dr David Vauzour, a Senior Research Fellow at the Norwich Medical School, told FoodNavigator.