What did change, however, was the behavioral and psychotic symptoms associated with their dementia (as quantified by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory), with approximately 27% improvement, mostly in the areas related to anxiety, agitation and delusion.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a progressive loss of memory, decline in cognitive function, behavioral changes and the loss in ability to do daily activities, all of which causes a significant caregiver burden and increased health care costs.

While pharmacological treatments can provide temporary reduction in AD symptoms, they are costly and cannot prevent the ultimate decline in cognitive and behavioral function. That is why the authors considered it important to discover any possible nutritional interventions.

"The modest, but statistically significant, impact of apple juice on the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in this study adds to the body of evidence supporting the usefulness of nutritional approaches, including fruit and vegetable juices, in delaying the onset and progression of Alzheimer's Disease, even in the face of known genetic risk factors," said the authors.

The study appears in American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias (AJADD).

From the June 21, 2010, Prepared Foods E-dition