Scientists have obtained the first evidence that blueberries, one of the richest sources of healthy antioxidants and other phytochemicals, improve memory. The study, published in the latest issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, lays a foundation for human clinical trials to determine if blueberries really confirm their growing reputation as memory enhancers.
Robert Kerkorian and his colleagues built on previous studies in laboratory animals that suggest that blueberry intake may help boost memory in later life. Until now, however, there have been few scientific works focused on verifying the effect of supplements of this fruit on people’s memory.
Two glasses of cranberry juice a day
- In the study, a group of 70-year-old volunteers with early memory loss drank the equivalent of 2 to 2.5 glasses of grocery store cranberry juice a day for two months. Another group had a drink with another composition. The cranberry juice group showed significant improvement on tests of learning and memory, according to the scientists.
- “These preliminary memory findings are promising and suggest that a consistent blueberry-based supplement may offer a chance to mitigate the neurodegenerative process,” the study notes. The research involved scientists from the University of Cincinnati, and the US and Canadian Departments of Agriculture.
