Blueberry Boosts Memory

Saturday Jan 23, 2010 (foodconsumer.org) -- Scientists have found evidence suggesting that blueberries may help improve memory in older adults because of its antioxidative phytochemicals, according to a new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 

Previous animal studies have suggested that eating blueberries may boost memory in older people, according to Robert Krikorian, author of the current study; he and colleagues from the University of Cincinnati worked in conjunction with several other organizations on the research. 

Krikorian and colleagues tested the effect of blueberry juice on memory in a group of volunteers in their 70s with early memory decline.  In the study, the study group drank 2 to 2.5 cups of blueberry juice while the control group drank a beverage every day for two months. 

Those who drank blueberry juice experienced signficant improvement on learning and memory tests, according to the scientists. 

"These preliminary memory findings are encouraging and suggest that consistent supplementation with blueberries may offer an approach to forestall or mitigate neurodegeneration," the authors wrote in the report. 

Blueberries may also be helpful in encouraging weight loss and preventing type 1 diabetes according to previous studies. 

Reporting by Jimmy Downs and editing by Rachel Stockton

Photo from Ars.usda.gov