Regular consumption of blueberries reduces the risk of dementia, found neurologists and nutritionists at the University of Cincinnati. They told the details in an article in Nutrients magazine.
The researchers followed 33 patients aged 50-65 who were overweight, pre-diabetic, and had mild memory impairment — people with these characteristics are at increased risk of developing dementia and other diseases later on.
For 12 weeks, study participants gave up berries and fruits – instead of them, part received a powder equivalent to half a cup of blueberries in micronutrient content, and half received a placebo. Tests measuring memory and cognitive function showed improvements in the first group.
“This was manifested in a decrease in the interference of extraneous information in the process of learning and memorization,” the scientists explained.
Blueberries are rich in anthocyanins – antioxidants that in the body can reduce inflammation levels, improve metabolism and increase energy production in cells. Exactly how blueberries affect brain function remains to be seen, but research shows that a healthy diet and regular consumption of certain foods can reduce the risk of dementia.
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