Regular blueberry consumption may reduce risk of dementia, study finds (A half cup of blueberries a day for 12 weeks: Fasting insulin improved ~20%, some cognitive/verbal issues decreased ~80%)

Medical Xpress / University of Cincinnati / Nutrients ^ | May 11, 2022 | Robert Krikorian et al

[ConservativeMind]

Researchers led by UC's Robert Krikorian, Ph.D., found that adding blueberries to the daily diets of certain middle-aged populations may lower the chances of developing late-life dementia.

Krikorian explained that about 50% of individuals in the U.S. develop insulin resistance, commonly referred to as prediabetes, around middle age. Prediabetes has been shown to be a factor in chronic diseases, he said.

"We had observed cognitive benefits with blueberries in prior studies with older adults and thought they might be effective in younger individuals with insulin resistance," said Krikorian. "Alzheimer's disease, like all chronic diseases of aging, develops over a period of many years beginning in midlife."

Half of the participants received powders that contained the equivalent of one-half cup of whole blueberries, while the other half received a placebo.

Participants were also given tests that measured certain cognitive abilities that decline in patients with aging and late-life dementia, such as executive functions like working memory, mental flexibility and self control.

Krikorian said those in the blueberry-treated group showed improvement on cognitive tasks that depend on executive control.

"This was evident as reduced interference of extraneous information during learning and memory," Krikorian explained.

Patients in the blueberry group also had lower fasting insulin levels, meaning the participants had improved metabolic function and were able to more easily burn fat for energy.

Krikorian said the blueberry group displayed an additional mild degree of higher mitochondrial uncoupling, a cellular process that has been associated with greater longevity and reduced oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can lead to symptoms like fatigue and memory loss.

"This last finding was exploratory but points to an interesting, potential mechanism for blueberry benefits," he said.

Thr main takeaway from the current study is that regular blueberry supplementation into at-risk middle-aged diets may lower the chances of developing late-life dementia.

[Bob434]

Thanks- its supposed to be good,for,a,number of serious,lung issues too- NAC works on lungs too -

[SuperLuminal]

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