Research by Dr. William A. Banks, professor of geriatrics and pharmacological and physiological science at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, suggests inflammation causes a blood-brain barrier transporter known as LRP to malfunction.

The blood-brain barrier is a system of cells that regulates the exchange of substances between the brain and the blood, and LRP removes amyloid beta protein—the same compound that is found to accumulate in the brains of those affected by Alzheimer’s—from the brain and into the bloodstream.

"We induced inflammation in mice and found that it turned off the LRP pump," explains Banks.

"It also revved up an entrance pump that transports amyloid beta into the brain. Both of these actions would increase the amount of amyloid beta protein in the brain," he adds.

Natural compounds including antioxidants and vitamin D have been proven to reduce inflammation as well as contribute to weight loss and control, heart health and cancer prevention.

For those who may not get enough antioxidants from their diet, nutritional health supplements may be a good alternative.

All grain products sold in Canada have been fortified with folic acid since 1998, and researchers from McGill University reviewed provincial databases which showed the rate of congenital heart defects between 1999 and 2005 was 1.47 per 1,000 births compared to 1.64 per 1,000 births between 1990 and 1999, a decrease of 6.2 percent each year.

However, "[th]e level of fortification was established to avoid negative side effects in the general population," says Raluca Ionescu-Ittu, a PhD candidate on the team.

"This level is not quite sufficient for women planning a pregnancy, who should start taking folic acid supplements at least three months before becoming pregnant," she adds.

Folic acid, a vitamin found in fruits and green vegetables, is also widely known to reduce the risk of neurological defects in newborns.