The dementia is a process of memory loss that appears with age. However, this phenomenon is not necessarily inevitable. It is entirely possible to grow old by having a brain in full capacity. Certain habits can help you, in particular: your diet. Indeed, certain foods are recommended for protect your neurons. This is the case with cranberries, as shown in a recent British study by the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, published on May 19, 2022 in the journal Frontiers and Function. It was conducted in collaboration with researchers from Leiden University Medical Center (Netherlands), University of Parma (Italy) and Quadram Institute (UK). According to the researchers, cranberries may improve memory and cognitive functions.
100 g of cranberries a day protects the brain
“Previous studies have shown thathigher dietary intake of flavonoids is associated with slower rates of cognitive decline and dementia. And foods rich in anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, which give berries their red, blue or purple color, have been found to improve cognition.” explains Dr. David Vauzour.
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Scientists have therefore focused on the effects of cranberries in particular. For this, they studied sixty people in good cognitive health, aged between 50 and 80. The participants were divided into two categories. The first had to consume freeze-dried cranberries every day, or 100 g of fresh cranberries. The other group had instead a placebo. They were followed for twelve weeks in order to observe the impact of this berry on brain function and cholesterol.
The results showed that cranberry consumption significantly improved volunteers’ memory for everyday events (visual episodic memory), l neural functioning and blood supply to the brain (cerebral perfusion).
Cranberry also improves vascular health
In addition, the group that took cranberries presented a significant decrease in bad cholesterol levels. This supports the idea that in addition to improving cognition, eating cranberries improves vascular health.
For experts, these first results are very positive. “The results of this study are very encouraging, especially considering that a relatively short intervention of 12 weeks of cranberry consumption was able to produce significant improvements in memory and neural function”explains Dr. David Vauzour.
This is a finding that should be explored further in further studies according to the authors of the research. “It establishes an important foundation for future research in the field of cranberries and neurological health.” adds the author of the study. He concludes on the importance of future work to allow a better end of life: “ Dementia is expected to affect approximately 152 million people by 2050. There is no known cure. It is therefore crucial that we seek modifiable lifestyle interventions, such as diet, that may help reduce the risk and burden of disease.”