这项研究的调查对象一共超过了7000名，他们在参与研究的时候都已经在45岁以上。研究起始阶段收集了血液样本，并通过身体检查和交流测试确定了志愿者的生理状态。
随后，研究团队对他们进行了平均长达16年的随访。
根据长期追踪结果，血液中叶黄素和玉米黄质水平很高的志愿者，发展成痴呆症的可能性要远远更低。通过与两种分子低水平的人群比较，他们发现叶黄素和玉米黄质每高出一个标准差（约15.4微摩尔/升），患痴呆的风险要下降7%。
而另一种抗氧化剂β-隐黄质的效果可能会更加明显，其水平每增加一个标准差（约15.4微摩尔/升），患痴呆症的风险就会降低14%。
不过，研究者指出，他们在引入其他因素之后，抗氧化物质的影响程度会降低，其中包括教育和收入程度、锻炼水平等，这说明这些因素会影响抗氧化物质和痴呆之间的联系。
“抗氧化物质可能有助于保护大脑免受氧化应激造成的细胞损伤。”研究作者之一May A。 Beydoun博士推测，他计划在未来探索直接添加这些抗氧化物质是否能保护大脑功能。
在日常的食物中，叶黄素和玉米黄质在甘蓝、菠菜和西兰花等蔬菜中含量较高，而橘子、木瓜和柿子等水果则含有较丰富的β-隐黄质。为了保证自己不步入痴呆症患者行列，日常多食用这些蔬菜和水果，它们可能是真正的“聪明药”！
参考资料：
[1] Higher antioxidant levels linked to lower dementia risk。 Retrieved May 7th， 2022 from https：//medicalxpress.com/news/2022-05-higher-antioxidant-linked-dementia.html
[2] Association of Serum Antioxidant Vitamins and Carotenoids With Incident Alzheimer Disease and All-Cause Dementia Among US Adults。 Neurology（2022）。 DOI： 10.1212/WNL.0000000000200289
More than 7000 people were surveyed in the study, all of whom were over the age of 45 at the time of the study. Blood samples were collected at the beginning of the study, and the physiological status of the volunteers was determined by physical examination and communication tests.
The team then followed them for an average of 16 years.
Based on the long-term tracking results,Volunteers with high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in their blood are far less likely to develop dementia.. Compared with people with low levels of the two molecules, they found that for every higher standard deviation of lutein and zeaxanthin (about 15.4 micromoles / liter), the risk of dementia decreased by 7%.
The effect of another antioxidant, β-cryptoxanthin, may be more obvious, with each increase in its level by a standard deviation (about 15.4 micromoles / liter).The risk of dementia will be reduced by 14%..
However, the researchers pointed out that when they introduced other factors, the effects of antioxidants decreased, including education and income, exercise levels, and so on, suggesting that these factors affect the link between antioxidants and dementia.
“antioxidants may help protect the brain from cell damage caused by oxidative stress.” May A, one of the authors of the study. Dr Beydoun speculates that he plans to explore whether adding these antioxidants directly protects brain function in the future.
In daily food, lutein and zeaxanthin are high in vegetables such as kale, spinach and broccoli, while fruits such as oranges, papayas and persimmons are rich in β-crypxanthin. In order to ensure that you do not join the ranks of people with dementia, eat more of these vegetables and fruits every day, they may be the real “smart medicine”!
Reference:
[1] Higher antioxidant levels linked to lower dementia risk. Retrieved May 7th， 2022 from https：//medicalxpress.com/news/2022-05-higher-antioxidant-linked-dementia.html
[2] Association of Serum Antioxidant Vitamins and Carotenoids With Incident Alzheimer Disease and All-Cause Dementia Among US Adults. Neurology（2022）. DOI： 10.1212/WNL.0000000000200289
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