Cognitive decline and brain degeneration are not inevitable.

Not only that, for the last decade or so, researchers and scientists have been convinced that our brain is capable of much greater plasticity than that which has been attributed to it up to now, i.e. that our neurons could regenerate even in adulthood.

Moreover, it is becoming increasingly clear that diet has an essential impact on the way we age.

At present, several nutritional means are appearing which allow to really delay the ageing process and the nerve damage such as disease d’Alzheimer or Parkinson.

A study had been published in January 2009 in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

Thomas B. Shea, PhD, of the Center for Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurodegeneration Research at the University of Massachusetts and his research team have conducted a number of studies in mice in the laboratory.

The result is that drinking apple juice helps the mouse perform better than normal on the maze tests and also avoids the decline in performance that is normally seen as the mouse ages.

These researchers showed that a mouse that received a daily amount equivalent to 2 glasses of apple juice for 1 month for humans produced fewer protein fragments (beta-amyloid). These proteins are involved in the formation of the "senile plaques" found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Shea said these findings support the fact that there is a definite influence of nutritional factors in age-related brain degeneration, even though there are genetic risk factors.

It's simple, but regular consumption of apple juice not only seems to help the brain function better, but also delays or prevents the development of some key factors related to Alzheimer's disease.

This confirms the old adage: an apple a day keeps the doctor away.