Drinking a glass of orange juice every day could significantly lower your risk of getting dementia, a study suggests.
Researchers tracked almost 28,000 men for two decades to examine how their fruit and vegetable consumption affected their brain power.
They found men who drank a small glass of orange juice were 47 per cent less likely to have difficulty remembering, following instructions or navigating familiar areas.
Lapses in memory, understanding and episodes of confusion can be early signs of brain decline which can ultimately lead to life-threatening dementia.
An estimated 46.8million people are living with dementia worldwide – 850,000 within in the UK, and five million in the US.
There is no cure for the condition but scientists have been trying to find a cure for the memory-robbing disorder for years.
This new evidence reiterates the importance of a healthy diet in staving off the degeneration of the brain which comes with old age.
'Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and nutrients, including antioxidants, that can help protect the brain,' said Dr Hannah Gardener, a researcher at the University of Miami, who wasn't involved with the research.
These health-giving benefits can protect the brain from a build-up of unwanted molecules and maintain a healthy blood supply to the brain.
Lead study author Changzheng Yuan said long-term intake of veg, fruit and orange juice 'may be beneficial' for maintaining cognitive function.
Fruit consumption, overall, didn't appear to influence the risk of moderate cognitive problems.
But drinking orange juice did, according to the research, published in the journal Neurology.
Just 6.9 of people who drank orange juice every day went on to develop poor cognitive function.
In comparison, the figure was 8.4 per cent of men who drank orange juice less than once a month.
'The protective role of regular consumption of fruit juice was mainly observed among the oldest men,' Ms Yuan said.
'Since fruit juice is usually high in calories from concentrated fruit sugars, it's generally best to consume no more than a small glass (four to six ounces) per day.'
The study didn't intend to find the link between a healthy diet and memory, however.
Therefore it lacked data on participants memory skills at the beginning of the study, which would have shown how their diet might have influenced this over time.
Dr Hannah Gardener added: 'Fruit and vegetable consumption may be a piece of the puzzle to maintaining cognitive health and should be viewed in conjunction with other behaviors believed to support cognitive health.'
