Blueberries and the Brain
Eating patterns can impact brain health and cognitive performance.
Researchers were interested in the impact of blueberry consumption on cognitive function. Participants were overweight, between 50-65 years old, and experiencing subjective cognitive decline, which increased their risk for dementia. The treatment and control groups were given cognitive tests before and after the blueberry intervention.
The treatment group consumed blueberry powder equal to about a half a cup of blueberries every day for 12 weeks. Compared to the control group, that consumed placebo powder, the blueberry treated group experienced improved:
Memory,
Learning Capacity, and
Executive Function, which includes focus, planning, task management, organization, and decision-making skills.
Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, especially anthocyanin, which reduces inflammation. Other studies revealed that blueberries and strawberries improve memory in both children and adults, as well as slow aging processes in the brain that can lead to cognitive decline.
Takeaway: Eating blueberries and strawberries regularly can improve memory and executive function, as well as reduce age-related cognitive decline.
Well-being is a journey, not a quick fix.
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Emeritus Professor Charles Calleros, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University
Sources
Robert Krikorian, et al., Blueberry Supplementation in Midlife for Dementia Risk Reduction - PubMed (nih.gov), April 13, 2022.
Brain-Health-Health-Pro-Resource-Updated.pdf (blueberry.org)
Jeff Haden, Scientists Just Discovered That Eating Blueberries Will Make You Smarter and 'Significantly' Improve Your Memory | Inc.com, Sept 5, 2024.
Karen Ensle, Eat Berries to Improve Brain Function (Rutgers NJAES), June 2017.
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