June 6 - Research at the University of Reading has found that phytochemical-rich foods, such as blueberries, can reverse age-related decline in memory and may have implications for the treatment of ageing-associated diseases, such as Alzheimer's Disease.
Published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine, the research shows that supplementing a regular diet with blueberries results in improvements in memory.
Blueberries are a major source of a group of plant phytochemicals known as flavonoids, which were historically believed to act as antioxidants in our bodies. However, this study indicates that rather than acting as simple antioxidants, flavonoids may interact directly with neurons (nerve cells) at the molecular level.
This interaction may initiate signaling pathways which can enhance existing neuronal connections, improve cellular communications and stimulate neuronal regeneration. The enhancement of both short-term and long-term memory is known to be controlled at the molecular level in neurons. This research suggests that the ability of flavonoids to induce improvements in memory may be through the activation of signaling pathways in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls learning and memory.
This multidisciplinary research project was led by Dr. Jeremy P E Spencer, from the Department of Food Biosciences at the University of Reading, and included Dr Claire Williams from the University's School of Psychology. It also involved the Peninsula Medical School.
Dr Spencer said; "Impaired or failing memory as we get older is one of life's major inconveniences. Scientists have known of the potential health benefits of diets rich in fresh fruits for a long time. Our previous work had suggested that flavonoid compounds had some kind of effect on memory, but until now we had not known the potential mechanisms to account for this.
"Our research provides scientific evidence to show that blueberries are good for you. It also supports the idea that a diet-based approach could potentially be used to increase memory capacity and performance in the future. We will be taking these findings to the next level by investigating the effects of diets rich in flavonoids on individuals suffering from cognitive impairment and possibly Alzheimer's disease."