Blueberry juice & purple grape juice improve memory in older adults

January, 2010

Two small studies provide the first human evidence that blueberries and Concord grape juice can improve verbal memory in those with mild cognitive impairment.

A number of rodent studies have shown that blueberries can improve aging memory; now for the first time, a human study provides evidence. In the small study, nine older adults (mean age 76) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) drank the equivalent of 2-2 l/2 cups of a commercially available blueberry juice every day. After three months they showed significantly improved paired associate learning and word list recall. The findings will of course have to be confirmed by larger trials, but they are consistent with other research.

A companion study involving 12 older adults (75-80) with MCI found that those who drank a pure variety of Concord grape juice for 12 weeks also saw their performance progressively improve on tests in which they had to learn lists and remember items placed in a certain order.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-01/acs-fet012010.php http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1234221/Drinking-grape-juice-r...

Reference: 

[1168] Krikorian, R., Shidler M. D., Nash T. A., Kalt W., Vinqvist-Tymchuk M. R., Shukitt-Hale B., et al.
(2010).  Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 58(7), 3996 - 4000.

[866] Krikorian, R., Nash T. A., Shidler M. D., Shukitt-Hale B., & Joseph J. A.
(2010).  Concord grape juice supplementation improves memory function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
The British Journal of Nutrition. 103(5), 730 - 734.

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