US Pharm. 2008;33(8):80.
A research team from the University of Reading and the Peninsula Medical School in southwestern England that is studying memory loss in the elderly think they have discovered a means of reversing the forgetfulness of aging.
According to the investigators conducting the study, eating a regular diet of blueberries over a 12-week period led to improvements in spatial working memory within three weeks and continued throughout the period of the study.
The scientists attribute their findings to the fact that blueberries, a phytochemical-rich food, are a major source of flavonoids. Although their mechanism of action is not clearly understood, flavonoids have been shown to cross the blood–brain barrier after being consumed. They are believed to have an effect on memory improvement and are mediated by the activation of signaling proteins through a specific pathway in the brain, known as the hippocampus, that controls learning and memory.
To comment on this article, contact
rdavidson@jobson.com.
