Blueberry Juice Shown to Improve Memory in Older Adults

Scientists are reporting the first evidence from human research that blueberries--one of the richest sources of healthful antioxidants and other so-called phytochemicals--improve memory. They reported that the study establishes a foundation for comprehensive human clinical trials to determine whether blueberries really deserve their growing reputation as a memory enhancer.

A report on the study was published in the December 18, 2009, issue of the American Chemical Society's (ACS) Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a biweekly publication. Dr. Robert Krikorian and colleagues, from the University of Cincinnati (UC; OH, USA), pointed out that earlier studies in laboratory animals suggest that eating blueberries may help boost memory in the aged. Until now, however, there had been little scientific research focused on evaluating the effect of blueberry supplementation on memory in people.

In the study, one group of volunteers in their 70s with early memory decline drank the equivalent of 2-2 l/2 cups of a commercially available blueberry juice every day for two months. A control group drank a beverage without blueberry juice. The blueberry juice group demonstrated significant improvement on learning and memory tests, the scientists say. "These preliminary memory findings are encouraging and suggest that consistent supplementation with blueberries may offer an approach to forestall or mitigate neurodegeneration,” stated Dr. Krikorian, a UC associate professor of clinical psychiatry, and coauthor of the report.

Related Links:
University of Cincinnati