In Brief
- Compounds in blueberries known as flavonoids may improve memory, learning and general cognitive function—and could slow age-related decline in mental function.
- Scientists have identified more than 6,000 different flavonoids. These chemicals are widely distributed in fruits and vegetables, cereal grains, cocoa, soy foods, tea and wine.
- Researchers now believe flavonoids affect cognition by interacting with proteins that are integral to brain-cell structure and function.
What is blue, sweet and juicy and may help ward off those nagging memory lapses? If you guessed blueberries, you would be right. Americans apparently cannot get enough of the delicious fruit. In 2008, the latest year that data are available, per capita blueberry consumption in the U.S. reached an all-time high of 12.3 ounces, roughly the size of one standard supermarket carton—an increase from 9.2 ounces in 2007. Whether we are eating more blueberries because they are good for us or just taste good is anyone’s guess, but now there is even more reason to load up the shopping cart with plump Vaccinium cyanococcus: they may protect our brain.
Emerging research suggests that compounds in blueberries known as flavonoids may improve memory, learning and general cognitive function, including reasoning skills, decision making, verbal comprehension and numerical ability. In addition, studies comparing dietary habits with cognitive function in adults hint that consuming flavonoids may help slow the decline in mental facility that is often seen with aging and might even provide protection against disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
This article was originally published with the title Your Brain on Blueberries.
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8 Comments
Add Comment"lamorpa", you really should've stayed in school. Blueberries also help improve night vision.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisVery funny. Yes, exactly as I stated. It is true one of the chemical compounds found in concentration in blueberries is a compound that is found to be deficient in mammals experiencing night vision loss, but no validated study has ever shown that consumption of blueberries results in an increase in concentration of this compound in eyes, or in an improvement in night vision. In actuality, it is you who may have wanted to stay in school a little longer...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDitto for 'free radical scavengers' and even, sadly, fish oil (much as we would wish it).
I wonder what Lamorpa means by "no validated study". I guess he thinks he knows better than the FDA when they approved Lovaza, a prescription fish oil. It's important to keep in mind however that the compounds found in foods are not drugs, and neither should they be viewed as such. To expect that studies which show an association between these compounds and health benefits should be subject to the same kind of rigor as drug trials is both unrealistic and disingenuous. But the evidence is far from anecdotal, as Lamorpa seems to suggest.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisVaccinium cyanococcus is not a species of blueberries. Cyanocococous is a subgenus comprised of nine species of highbush (3) and lowbush blueberries (6 species). Vaccinium oxycoccus is the commonly planted highbush blueberry while V. angustifolium is the most commonly harvested lowbush blueberry. The lowbush blueberry is often referred to as the 'Wild blueberry', primarily becuase it is not planted. It is cultivated from wild plants. Highbush blueberries are the large blueberry found on the supermarket shelves, whereas the lowbush blueberry is small and not typically found in supermarkets located away from growing areas. It is used in pastry mixes, breakfast products and blueberry juices. They are great tasting!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGeoFuen: I meant the popular notion that consumption of fish oil increases brain function (completely unproven). Lovaza is used to reduce triglycerides in your blood. When you state, "To expect that studies which show an association between these compounds and health benefits should be subject to the same kind of rigor as drug trials is both unrealistic and disingenuous," I really have to ask what you could mean. Do you believe claims of health enhancement should be made on the basis of anecdotal evidence, wishful thinking, or the profit motive of the distributors? I'd hate to have my health depending on that.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIf we are talking about Antioxidant ,I thought paramagnet is the best .
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thispamogranet*
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswishfulthinking*
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