Blueberries protect against Alzheimers
Blueberries, already known as a super food for lowering the risks of heart disease and cancer, have now shown potential in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
The berries are full of healthful antioxidants which have the potential to fight the devastating effects of this increasingly common form of dementia.
Flavanoids called anthocyanins are thought to improve understanding.
A study which gave those with mild cognitive impairment aged 68 and over the equivalent of a cup of berries each day for 16 weeks found improvements in cognitive performance and brain function.
“The blueberry group demonstrated improved memory and improved access to works and concepts” said Dr Robert Krikorian who presented the findings to the American Chemical Society.
The team also conducted functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which showed increased brain activity in those who ingested the blueberry powder.
In the future, the team plans to conduct a blueberry study with a younger group of people, aged 50 to 65. The group would include people at risk of developing Alzheimer’s, such as those who are obese, have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. This work could help the researchers determine if blueberries could help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms
