Researchers from Loma Linda Univ. Health found that eating an egg a day, five days a week, was associated with a 27 percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s. Even occasionally eating eggs has benefits. People who ate eggs two to four times a week had a 20 percent lower risk. People who ate eggs one to three times a month had a 17 percent lower risk.
There hasn’t been much research into modifiable dietary factors and Alzheimer’s. Eggs are rich in many nutrients that aid brain health. They contain choline that aids memory and synaptic function. They also have lutein and zeaxanthin that help cognition and lower oxidative stress. Plus, eggs are rich in omega-3s.
The study used 40,000 people. They were participating in a health study wherein all the participants were Seventh-day Adventists. The average follow-up period was 15.3 years.
“Research supports eggs as part of a healthy diet,” said lead author Dr. Jisoo Oh. “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.”
One might dismiss this study, believing that something else about Seventh-day Adventists’ lifestyle is what is helping them. Seventh-day Adventists have lower rates of smoking and alcohol use than the general U.S. public. Many Seventh-day Adventists are vegetarians. However, the results were comparing apples to apples. The egg-eaters were Seventh-day Adventists being compared to non-egg-eating Seventh-day Adventists. Everything else in their lifestyle should have been largely comparable.
Other studies have also shown how helpful eggs are. For instance, a study published in 2024 found that women who ate two to four eggs a week had slower cognitive decline over four years. And egg-enjoyers have better memory recall and problem-solving skills.
Healthy habits are built on a collection of behaviors, not just one thing. If you don’t like eggs, you don’t have to force yourself to start eating a daily egg for its brain health benefits. However, if you do enjoy eggs, having them more frequently could be one way of ensuring you are taking care of your brain health and your future cognition.
