
07/31/2025
One Egg Per Week Linked To Lower Alzheimer's Risk
Eating eggs regularly is linked to less buildup of toxic proteins in the brain, according to a recent study on human brains. Eggs have been a dietary staple for centuries. Although they are packed with nutrients, not very expensive and easy to get, they have been the subject of much controversy in health and wellness circles for years.
A recent study has improved their good reputation. The study concluded that eating one egg per week was associated with a 47% reduction in Alzheimer’s risk compared with eating eggs less than once each month. The study showed that those who eat eggs have a reduced buildup of the toxic proteins associated with Alzheimer’s.
So are eggs good for you or bad for you??? One hundred years ago, eggs were considered essential. Full of vitamins and rich in protein, eggs were a staple throughout the world. Then, a few decades ago, scientists found that high levels of cholesterol in the blood were a risk factor for heart disease, so high-cholesterol eggs were considered undesirable. However, it has now become clear that dietary cholesterol does not significantly impact blood levels of cholesterol.
Thanks to this new understanding, and a healthy dose of research funding from the Egg Nutrition Center, eggs have edged slowly back into play. Because their saturated fat content is still a concern, eggs are still partially sidelined. However, they are likely to be much healthier than many of the low-fat, highly processed snacks that have replaced eggs in modern kitchens.
So today, doctors have a neutral view of eggs. In general, the advice is that they can be part of a healthy, well-balanced diet, but at the same time, eating multiple eggs per day may be unhealthy.
Eggs and Alzheimer’s: What is the link?
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, and despite decades of research, there is no cure, and treatments that can slow the disease are severely lacking. Previous research has shown that choline is important for cognitive function. And, eggs are the top food source of choline.
Although our body can produce some choline, it's not enough to meet the body’s needs, so some choline must be taken in with our diet. Eggs also contain essential omega-3 fatty acids, which support brain health as we age. Unfortunately, studies show that the majority of adults in the United States do not consume enough of these essential fatty acids. These facts led researchers to investigate links between egg consumption and Alzheimer’s risk.
The recent study included data from 1,024 older adults with an average age of 81.4. All participants lived in retirement communities and residential facilities and the researchers followed them for an average of 6.7 years. During this time, over one-quarter of them developed Alzheimer’s disease.
The study found that people who ate at least one egg per week had a 47% reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared with those only eating one egg per month or fewer. Researchers also looked at the brains of 578 participants and found that those who ate one or more eggs each week were more likely to have less Alzheimer’s protein buildup. Overall, the research suggests that consuming at least one egg per week may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.
So for now, if you like eggs – enjoy them! They may reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s, but if not, they will at least provide you with a good, healthy dose of protein!!!