Cell and animal studies have found that blueberries - rich in antioxidants called anthocyanidins - improve memory. A new study has found that they may improve memory and potentially delay the onset of Alzheimer's disase.
Robert Krikorian, PhD, of the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Ohio, and his colleagues tested the learning and memory of nine elderly patients diagnosed with early memory changes that often precede Alzheimer's disease.
The patients were asked to drink approximately a half-quart of blueberry juice daily for 12 weeks. The juice was roughly equivalent to three-fourth of a pound of blueberries daily.
By the end of the study, the patients had improvements in learning and memory. Their blood sugar levels decreased, a sign of better glucose tolerance, and they also had slightly fewer symptoms of depression.
The researchers noted that while the number of subjects in the study was small, the benefits were impressive. "These preliminary memory findings are encouraging and suggest that consistent supplementation with blueberries may offer an approach to forestall or mitigate neuro-degeneration," they wrote.
Reference: Krikorian R, Shindler MD, Nash TA, et al. Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, 2010:epub ahead of print.
