Minimize Risk of Developing Dementia By Drinking This Fruit Juice Regularly

This progressive neurological condition oftentimes affects people who are above 65 years old. It is, however, not part of the aging process.

Dementia interrupts the cognitive functions of the brain and causes a lot of symptoms like a decline in mental sharpness and memory loss. There is no surefire way of preventing dementia, but the latest research on the condition has begun exploring ways on how to reduce your risk. One finding has something to do with lifestyle interventions.

Dementia and Blueberry Juice

Scientists believe that consuming a healthy diet can help reduce your risk of dementia. Furthermore, a study conducted by researchers from the University of Exeter discovered that drinking a glass of concentrated blueberry juice regularly helps improve the brain function of older people.

What the researchers discovered solidify findings of past researchers, which show that dementia risk is lowered by higher intake of fruits and vegetables. In addition to this, cognitive functions are also better preserved in healthy older adults if their regular diet consists of plant-based foods.

In the study involving healthy adults who are between 65 and 77 years old, researchers found significant improvements in their cognitive functions after they drank concentrated blueberry juice every day. Their blood flow to the brain and brain activity also showed considerable improvements when doing cognitive tests. More importantly, the study also showed that drinking blueberry juice regularly helps improve your working memory.

Blueberry Properties

Blueberries contain lots of flavonoids, a plant compound that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are compounds believed to counter a chemical imbalance in the body called oxidative stress. This chemical imbalance is believed by scientists to play a huge role in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.

The Study

To firmly establish how blueberry juice helps lower the risk of dementia, 26 healthy adult participants were split into two groups. The first 12 were asked to drink concentrated juice equivalent to 230 grams of blueberries every day while the other 14 were given a placebo.

Before and after the study period, which ran for 12 weeks, participants underwent a series of cognitive tests while an MRI scanner observed their brain activity. Resting brain blood flow was also measured.

At the end of the study, researchers found that those who drank blueberry supplements showed considerable progress in their brain activities in brain sections related to the tests. The placebo group showed little or no improvement at all.

According to Dr. Joanna Bowtell, their research showed that with only 12 weeks of concentrated blueberry juice consumption, brain activation, brain blood flow, and working memory aspects improved greatly.