Beetroot Could Prevent Progression of Alzheimer's Disease, Study Shows

A study presented at the 255th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society determined the beetroot-derived compound of betanin could potentially slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease, reports Newsweek . Betanin can inhibit certain chemical reactions in the brain associated with Alzheimer's progression by helping to reduce protein accumulation. The researchers monitored beta-amyloids by themselves and in a betanin mixture, and measured their oxidation levels. Results showed that oxidation was reduced by as much as 90 percent when these proteins were exposed to the beet compound. "Less oxidation could prevent misfolding to a certain degree, perhaps even to the point that it slows the aggregation of beta-amyloid peptides, which is believed to be the ultimate cause of Alzheimer's," says University of Florida researcher Darrell Cole Cerrato. The results are preliminary and do not prove that the beet extract completely prevents protein misfolding.