In a recent human research study, scientists have reported that blueberries improve memory. Blueberries are one of the world’s richest sources of healthful antioxidants and other phytochemicals that help improve memory power. The reputation of blueberries as memory enhancers has been steadily growing and researchers now feel that the recent study lays foundation to comprehensive human clinical trials to produce experimental evidence to support the case. The ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly publication, has published the recent study report.
Robert Krikorian and his fellow team scientists stated that the previous studies, which showed consuming blueberries helped improve memory in the aged, was carried out on laboratory animals. This was however, the first test carried out to test the effect blueberries have on enhancing memory in aged humans.
One study group consisted of people in the age group of 70 with proven case of memory decline and another group was the control group. The 70’s age group consumed 2-2 l/2 cups of blueberry juice during the early hours of morning every day for a period of two months. The control group on the other hand was provided with a beverage that did not contain blueberry juice. The scientists conducted memory tests and the result showed that the 70’s group that drank blueberry juice showed improvement in the tests. The scientists were thrilled at the outcome of the research, which indicates that a constant intake of blueberries may be able to forestall or mitigate neurodegeneration.