Eggs have long been a breakfast staple. But now, researchers are suggesting they might also be one of the most accessible brain-supporting foods available, especially for older adults.
A recent study from the Rush Memory and Aging Project has revealed something striking: people who ate at least one egg per week were nearly 50% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s dementia than those who rarely or never ate eggs. And autopsies of participants who had passed away backed up the findings—those with regular egg intake showed significantly less Alzheimer’s-related damage in the brain.
Eggs are rich in choline, an essential nutrient that helps build and maintain healthy brain cell membranes and neurotransmitters. In fact, about 39% of the protective benefit observed in the study could be traced back to higher dietary choline intake.
Also present in eggs are omega-3 fatty acids and lutein—both associated with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. But until now, there hasn’t been large-scale evidence connecting egg consumption to actual reductions in Alzheimer’s risk and pathology.
Researchers followed over 1,000 older adults (average age: 81) for nearly seven years. All participants were free of dementia at the start of the study. During that period, just over a quarter developed Alzheimer’s dementia. But among those who ate at least one egg a week, the numbers dropped sharply, showing a 47% reduction in risk.
More than half of the study group agreed to post-mortem brain analysis, giving scientists rare insight into the disease’s physical progression. Those who regularly consumed eggs had significantly fewer of the sticky amyloid plaques and tangled proteins typically seen in Alzheimer’s patients.
The results suggest a simple, inexpensive dietary habit could offer meaningful protection against a disease that currently affects more than 6 million Americans. While further clinical trials are needed to cement eggs as a preventive strategy, the early findings are promising.
Eggs won’t cure Alzheimer’s, and they’re not a substitute for other brain-healthy habits. But for older adults, or anyone hoping to age with cognitive strength, they may be a better option than once thought.
And yes, the yolks count.