Delicious and healthy
Blueberries have reduced the risk of developing dementia
Mikhail Orlov, Naked Science
According to epidemiological forecasts, a kind of epidemic of neurodegenerative disorders awaits humanity in the coming decades. These diseases lead to a slow and increasing death of nerve cells, which, as a rule, is manifested by dementia (senile dementia), memory disorders, movement, and so on. Alzheimer's disease is considered the most common neurodegeneration: it accounts for 80% of all cases of such diseases. However, despite enormous efforts, there are still no treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. All this determines the active search for new pharmacological drugs and biologically active substances that can affect the destruction of the brain.
A new article has been published in the journal Nutrients, in which American researchers evaluated the effectiveness of blueberry berries to slow down cognitive impairment in the risk group — in overweight elderly people (Krikorian et al., Blueberry Supplementation in Midlife for Dementia Risk Reduction).
And how did they not get tired of chewing these blueberries? The article Krikorian et al. Blueberry Supplementation Improves Memory in Older Adults was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in 2010 - WM.
Blueberries and related blueberries, lingonberries, as well as other brightly colored berries contain many pigments. Blueberries contain especially a lot of so-called anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. These are natural compounds that have antioxidant properties and have a number of positive health effects. With regular consumption, berries improve metabolism, suppress inflammatory processes and oxidative stress, and also contribute to the health of blood vessels and the nervous system.
Unlike yellow or red carotenoids, anthocyanins give fruits blue or purple shades. Proanthocyanidins protect plants, in particular, from damage by free radicals and reactive oxygen species, as well as from infections. In humans, the consumption of proanthocyanidins reduces the risk of cancer, cardiovascular pathology, metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
It is also noteworthy that proanthocyanidins lower blood sugar levels due to the effect on the glucose transporter, the suppression of gluconeogenesis (the release of glucose from non-carbohydrate compounds) and other mechanisms.
"Blueberries have already been shown to have a positive effect on the cognitive functions of mature people, it can be effective in those young people who are also resistant to insulin," said Professor Robert Krikorian from the University of Cincinnati (USA). He emphasizes that the first symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are usually preceded by many years of its unnoticeable development — it is during this period that various preventive measures are relevant.
The study involved 33 subjects aged 50-65 years who are overweight and live in Cincinnati and the surrounding area. All of them noted subjective deterioration of their memory. For 12 weeks, these people did not eat any berries and took a package of crushed powder every day at breakfast or lunch, which was dissolved in water.
Half of the subjects received in this form the amount of anthocyanins contained in half a cup of blueberries, the other half received a placebo. Then all were tested, which assessed those cognitive functions that are impaired in dementia: memory, intellectual flexibility and self-control.
As a result, cognitive improvements were noted in people who received the blueberry preparation: they were more successful in solving tasks requiring executive control, that is, prompt response and adaptation. In addition, their insulin levels decreased in their fasting blood. This means a certain improvement in metabolism, and the ability to burn fat reserves faster.
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