Vitamin E is fat soluble vitamin that is believed to have numerous health benefits based on its antioxidant properties. Now, a recent paper in the Archives of Neurology has revealed that higher consumption of vitamin E is associated with a decreased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

To arrive at their conclusions, researchers turned their attention to four antioxidants: vitamin E, vitamin C, beta carotene, and flavonoids. These antioxidants are believed to help combat the damaging effects of oxidative stress, which results from cellular exposure to oxygen. Oxidative stress is also implicated in the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Research has suggested that antioxidants help to repair the damage done to cells over time, and because of this, have been tapped as a way to temper the degeneration of neurons. Previous studies looking into this possibility have thus far been inconclusive and inconsistent.

In the current study, doctors followed nearly 5,400 subjects, all of whom were 55 years or older and had no medical history of dementia. Baseline physicals were performed and a medical profile, which included diet, was established at the beginning of the study.

After nearly ten years (an average of 9.6 years) of follow up, it was discovered that 465 of the participants had developed dementia, and in that group, 365 were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Looking at the total number of participants, it was observed that the individuals who consumed the most vitamin E were at a 25 percent lower risk for developing dementia than the sub-group who consumed the least amount of vitamin E, even after adjusting for certain related factors.

The numbers were similar when only the group diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease was assessed. There was, however, no association seen between consumption of vitamin C, beta carotene, and flavonoids and dementia risk.

In order to gain a better understanding of the protective effects of vitamin E, more research will need to be done. However, it is known that a great deal of metabolic activity occurs in the brain, and because of this, it is particularly susceptible to oxidative damage. Over time, the cumulative effect of this damage could be a contributing factor to dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Dementia is one of the fastest growing diseases in the world, and one that is slated to only increase as the population ages. It has been estimated that 24 million people worldwide suffer from some form of dementia, and in the absence of any major medical breakthrough, that number will only grow.

Dementia actually describes a number of symptoms, including memory loss, caused by problems with the brain. Many diseases can result in dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.

If you have questions or concerns about dementia, speak with your doctor of visit the website for the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).