Brain health: Wild blueberries improve cognition and processing time in elderly, study finds

21 Sep 2022 --- Six months of wild blueberry consumption helps improve the elderly population’s information processing speed, reducing cognitive aging effects. Throughout the University of Carolina, US, study, it was shown that participants who ingested a flavonoid-rich, freeze-dried wild blueberry powder performed better cognitively than those who consumed a placebo powder.

“This study adds to the ever-growing body of evidence that shows that consuming wild blueberries can impact brain function,” says Kitty Broihier, nutrition advisor for the Wild Blueberry Association of North America.

“The researchers’ work is important for helping define the connection between long-term consumption of wild blueberries and improvements in specific cognition aspects.”

“Combined with the short-term studies that have been done on wild blueberries and cognition, this new evidence helps provide a complete picture of the beneficial cognitive effects that eating wild blueberries can have and that eating these berries daily may be a practical and effective part of a brain-healthy diet.”

The antioxidant effects of wild berries
As fresh berries do not transport well, wild blueberries from Maine can be obtained in the freezer department of grocery stores.

According to the researchers, within hours of being plucked from the savannas, where they grow at their ripest, the wild blueberries are individually fast-frozen (IQF). All of the berries’ phytochemical complexity and integrity are flash frozen by the IQF method, preserving all of the health advantages for the consumer. The berries can be added to smoothies, cereal or yogurt.

Consuming wild blueberries every day for six months enhances brain health.“The wild blueberry has a phytochemical profile that has been tailored by the harsh environments of Maine and the surrounding areas where they grow,” says Mary Ann Lila, study author and director of the NC State Plants for Human Health Institute.

“The wild blueberry’s adaptation to this environment has resulted in a diverse phytochemical profile that gives the wild blueberry an incredible potency for human health. Phytochemicals are compounds in plants that develop to defend the plant from environmental stress, fungi, bacteria and viruses.”

“Once consumed by humans, they transfer these health benefits to us. The research study shows that the phytochemicals specific to the wild blueberry are important for brain health,” adds Lila.

Accessing impact through brain imaging
The study comprised 86 older persons (aged 65 to 80) from the Kannapolis region in North Carolina who were dealing with some cognitive problems, according to their accounts and those of a trusted friend. As a control group, 43 more senior citizens without any issues were added.

To determine each participant’s level of cognition, tests were administered to them. Then, they were told to include the powder daily in their diets and were given the option of consuming either the wild blueberry powder or a placebo powder.

The participants underwent another cognitive test following the research study. The exams comprised the Event-Related Potentials (ERP) brain imaging procedure and the Cambridge Neurological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).

The findings demonstrated that the wild blueberry group had a better processing speed, a fundamental cognitive function. Processing speed was returned to that of the reference group members who had not had any cognitive loss.

Edited by Nicole Kerr