Several studies have already shown that red fruits such as strawberries or cranberries have protective effects on the brain and improve memory performance. A new study from the University of North Carolina (USA), published in the journal Nutrients, adds a new fruit to this list of protective foods: the blueberries.
Rich in antioxidant flavonoids that fight against oxidation of our cells, blueberries also contain anthocyanins, which fight against cellular aging. For this study, the researchers recruited about forty patients suffering from a moderate form of Alzheimer’s disease. Some received a daily dose of blueberry powder and others a flavored placebo powder. Patients were asked to consume the powder with their morning or evening meal, by mixing it with water, for 6 months.
At the end of this nutritional experiment, the blueberry group obtained better results in cognitive tests and better performance in tests on daily memory.
“This is the first study of its kind to examine blueberry supplementation in middle-aged people at risk for future health problems and dementia in later life,” said lead author Prof. Robert Krikorian. of the study. “Importantly, this research provides evidence that blueberry supplementation can improve cognitive function and correct elevated insulin levels in these participants with prediabetes.”
Further research will be needed to examine blueberry supplementation over a longer period, with a larger sample size. But in the meantime, nothing prevents you from adding blueberries to your menus: we give you the recipes to fill up on antioxidants.
Source : Six-month intervention with wild blueberries improved speed of processing in mild cognitive decline: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trialNutrients, September 2022