Alzheimer’s research focuses on grapes

NEW YORK, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- New York researchers are focusing on grape polyphenols in wine and grape juice to help maintain long-term cognitive health.

Researchers at the Center for Research in Alternative and Complementary Medicine in Alzheimer’s disease research at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York say Concord grape juice and red wine polyphenols show promise in counteracting beta-amyloid plaques associated with cognitive decline.

Two recent population studies associated moderate red wine and 100 percent fruit juice consumption with lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease dementia.

"This grape polyphenol research is preliminary, but very encouraging," Dr. Giulio Pasinetti, director of the center and principal investigator of the research program in polyphenolics. "The results show the potential protective role which non-alcoholic, polyphenol-rich Concord grape juice may play in maintaining long term cognitive health."

The research was presented in San Diego at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.