Could Eating Eggs Reduce Dementia Risk?

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found a link between lecithin intake and a reduced risk of dementia, a condition that impairs cognitive function. Researchers followed 3,227 participants, of whom approximately 250 developed dementia. Analysis of their dietary intake showed that daily consumption of lecithin was associated with a significantly lower risk of developing the condition.

Dr. Maya Rosman discussed these findings in her research segment on 103FM, concluding, “Lecithin in egg yolks reduces the risk of dementia.” She explained, “The study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that high lecithin intake is linked to a decreased risk of dementia. Lecithin is essential for neural activity in the brain and plays a key role in memory.”

She added that lecithin also acts as an emulsifier in the food industry, as it binds water-based and fat-based substances together. “For example,” Rosman explained, “when you melt chocolate to make a mousse and add an egg yolk, the mixture becomes smoother and more uniform because of the lecithin in the yolk.”

Rosman noted additional dietary sources of lecithin, including liver, nuts, eggs, soybeans, and other legumes. “It’s also found in chicken and fish, added in small amounts to commercial chocolates, and present in many other products,” she said. “Since liver is not considered a particularly healthy food—being an organ that filters toxins—eggs and soy remain the primary recommended sources of lecithin.”

Addressing concerns about cholesterol in eggs, Rosman explained, “For more than a decade, studies have shown that eggs are not a cause of heart disease, and that the belief held for nearly 100 years was a serious misconception. Heart disease is primarily linked to excessive consumption of carbohydrates and processed fats, not the cholesterol in eggs. In fact, a recent study found that eating two eggs a day may protect against heart disease. The reason is that eggs contain lecithin, which helps improve blood flow throughout the body.”