Neuroscience For Kids
Blueberry Juice May Improve Memory in Older People
March 18, 2010
In 1999, scientists provided the first evidence that blueberries may improve memory...in old rats.
Blueberries, as well as other fruits and vegetables, may have special
chemicals that slow or prevent some signs of aging. For example, these
chemicals may have antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties that
protect the brain from damage. Could blueberries benefit humans? Robert
Krikorian and his coworkers designed a small experiment to find out.
The scientists studied a group of nine older people (five men, four
women; mean age = 76.2 years) who had mild memory problems. After taking
baseline word memory tests, these subjects were given bottled blueberry
juice or placebo juice (a drink that tasted like berry juice) to drink.
Depending on their weight, the subjects drank between 1.8 and 2.6 cups
(444-621 ml) of juice every day for 12 weeks.
At the end of the 12-week period, subjects who drank blueberry juice
scored significantly better on memory tests than those subjects who drank
placebo juice. These data provide the first evidence that blueberry juice
may benefit older people with early memory problems. The data do
not indicate that blueberry juice improves memory in
everyone. The researchers were careful to point out that they tested only
a small number of people and suggest that a larger study be done to
confirm their findings.
References and more information:
- A Cup of Blueberries a Day... Keeps Neurological Problems Away - Neuroscience for Kids
- Krikorian, R., Shidler, M.D., Nash, T.A., Kalt, W., Vinqvist-Tymchuk, M.R., Shukitt-Hale, B. and Joseph, J.A., Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults, J. Agri. Food Chem., DOI:10.1021/jf9029332, in press.
Copyright © 1996-2010, Eric H. Chudler, University of Washington
