Study Finds Eggs May Protect Your Brain From Alzheimer's, But Probably Not From Your Bad Breakfast Choices

Researchers at Loma Linda University Health have cracked open some good news for egg lovers: eating eggs regularly may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease in adults 65 and older. The study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, found that people who ate at least one egg per day for five or more days each week had up to a 27% lower risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

"Compared to never eating eggs, eating at least five eggs per week can decrease risk of Alzheimer's," said Joan Sabaté, MD, DrPH, a professor at Loma Linda University School of Public Health and the study's principal investigator. Even smaller amounts showed benefits: eating eggs just 1 to 3 times per month was linked to a 17% reduction in risk, while 2 to 4 times per week saw about a 20% lower risk.

The research, titled Egg intake and the incidence of Alzheimer's disease in the Adventist Health Study-2 cohort linked with Medicare data, followed about 40,000 participants for an average of 15.3 years. Alzheimer's cases were identified through physician diagnoses recorded in Medicare data, with eligibility determined using the Medicare Master Beneficiary Summary Files.

So what makes eggs so brain-friendly? They contain choline, which helps produce compounds essential for memory and brain cell communication, as well as lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids. The yolk is especially high in phospholipids, making up nearly 30% of total egg lipids, which help neurotransmitter receptors function.

But before you go scrambling a dozen, the researchers caution that eggs should be part of an overall healthy eating pattern. "Seventh-day Adventists do eat a healthier diet than the general public, and we want people to focus on overall health along with this knowledge about the benefit of eggs," said Jisoo Oh, DrPH, MPH, an associate professor of epidemiology and the study's lead author.

Some funding came from the American Egg Board, which presumably was thrilled to hear their product isn't just for breakfast anymore. Additional support came from the National Institutes of Health.