Egg Consumption Could Help Prevent Alzheimer's, According to a 2024 Study

Scientists for years have been researching possible ways of preventing the onset of Alzheimer's later in life. A new study suggests that a common kitchen ingredient could be the key to stopping neurodegenerative disease.

The research, published in The Journal of Nutrition, points to eggs being a potential saving grace when preventing Alzheimer's dementia as we age. Eggs have long been praised for their neurological benefits as they're packed with choline, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein—all important nutrients for brain health. And while some evidence suggests that eating eggs often can improve cognitive performance on verbal tests, up until now, it's been unknown if eating eggs can itself influence the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.  

The scientists examined the self-reported dietary habits of 1,024 adults with an average age of 81.4 years. They found that eating more than one egg per week was associated with a 47 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's. After several years of follow-ups, 280 participants, or about 27.3 percent of the total cohort, were diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Eggs' choline content in particular was of interest to the scientists. "These findings suggest that frequent egg consumption is associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s dementia and [Alzheimer's disease] pathology, and the association with Alzheimer’s dementia is partially mediated through dietary choline," they concluded in the paper.

The study adds to scientific literature including a 2021 study that found a slower rate of memory decline among those who ate at least one egg per week compared to those who didn't. It's the first of its kind to suggest a link between consuming eggs and Alzheimer's disease risk. 

More research is being done into eggs' potential neurological benefits, and the preliminary results don't conclusively establish that eating eggs prevents Alzheimer's. Still, it's a promising step in the right direction. 

"Eggs are one of the few commonly consumed foods that are naturally rich in choline, a nutrient that we are researching to further understand its role in supporting both cognitive development in infants and young children and maintenance during the aging process," study lead author Taylor Wallace said in a statement. "This study adds to the growing body of evidence that dietary choices can have a significant impact on reducing the risk of Alzheimer's dementia and supporting lifelong cognitive health."

Eggs Are Not Responsible for Your High Cholesterol

According to a study led by Nick Fuller at the University of Sydney, Australia, and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2018), eggs, "despite conflicting evidence continuing around the world," are not responsible for heart disease or high cholesterol.

The study notes that people with Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes ate a dozen eggs a week for a year, at which point a series of tests showed no negative results whatsoever. Study participants consumed high (12), medium and low (two) eggs per week for the first three months. 

Times Now News explains, "This was aimed at maintaining optimal weight for the three months. In a bid to lose weight, the same members were asked to embark on a weight loss plan while consuming the same amount of eggs they were consuming earlier. For six months, the participants continued on their consumption of eggs while they were monitored by the researchers."

Eggs are among the healthiest foods out there, but not all eggs are created equal, and sorting through the egg labels to identify the highest quality eggs can be a confusing affair.

Five reasons why you should incorporate eggs into your diet

1. Nothing’s more nutritious than an egg: The egg is a single cell which has all the nutrients to turn into a baby chicken. So imagine the kind of nutritional value the egg possesses. A single boiled egg possesses the following nutrients:

• 6% of the recommended dietary allowance of Vitamin A
• 5% of the recommended dietary allowance of Folates
• 7% of the recommended dietary allowance of Vitamin B5
• 9% of the recommended dietary allowance of Vitamin B12
• 15% of the recommended dietary allowance of Vitamin B2
• 9% of the recommended dietary allowance of Phosphorus
• 22% of the recommended dietary allowance of Selenium

       If you can lay your hands on omega-rich eggs, it’s even better.

2. Eggs are also filled with a good amount of Vitamin D, K, E, B6, calcium and zinc. One single egg also contains less amount of calories and 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of healthy fats.  

3. Although cholesterol-rich, eggs don’t altercate the LDL levels in blood:  An egg contains only 212 mg of cholesterol which is lesser than even the half recommended dietary allowance of cholesterol for a day. Since the liver already produces a large amount of cholesterol every day, consumption of eggs balances the ratio with the liver’s production. In fact, eggs increase the HDL or good cholesterol levels in your body.

4. Eggs are the ores of choline: Most people haven’t even heard about Choline. Choline, which is often grouped with Vitamin B, is necessary to build cell membranes and produces molecules that facilitate brain signalling. Whole eggs are an extremely rich source of choline. A single egg contains more than 100 mg of choline.

5. Eggs better the quality of LDL in blood: LDL, also known as bad cholesterol, has three subtypes; dense, large and small. And the small type of LDL is most notorious for increasing the risk of heart disease. People with large LDL particles in their body are at a lesser risk of a heart disease. And eggs are known to convert these small LDL particles to large ones so it is a saviour in another way.

6. Eggs keep your eye healthy: Eggs are rich in Lutein and Zeaxanthin, the antioxidants that build up in the retina of the eye. And studies have proven time and again that these two antioxidants keep cataract and macular degradation at bay, which are the two of the most common eye ailments in the world. And eggs are already high in Vitamin A, so it keeps your eyes well.

Note: Although eggs are considered healthy, consulting a doctor or a healthcare practitioner before incorporating them into your diet is recommended.

The Egg Crackdown

Health conscious consumers know to look for designations like "organic," "free-range," "pastured" and "cage-free,"1 but while you may think many of these are interchangeable, they're actually not. In some ways, these labels are little more than creative advertising.

The featured video, "Egg Crackdown," a CBC Marketplace report by investigative reporter Asha Tomlinson, investigates the marketing of supermarket eggs and visits egg producers to get a firsthand look at what the company's label actually means.

Related: Best Natural Supplements for Dementia