Two Berries Delay Brain Aging Two-and-a-Half Years

A Harvard study published in the Annals of Neurology indicates that eating a diet high in blueberries and strawberries can slow brain aging and cognitive decline by up to two and a half years.

Dr. Elizabeth Devore and her team of researchers at Harvard Medical School analyzed data from the lengthy Nurses’ Health Study in 1976. Questionnaires were completed every four years since 1980 to assess the frequency of berry intake and the intake of 31 different phytonutrients called flavonoids. In 16,010 participants over the age of 70 between 1995 and 2001, cognitive function was tested every two years.

The researchers found that those participants who consumed a high amount of blueberries or strawberries had slower decline in cognitive function test scores during the follow-up period than those whose intake of these fruits was lower. The results were an average delay in cognitive decline due to aging of up to 2-and-a-half years.

Both blueberries and strawberries are excellent sources of flavonoids, which reduce inflammation. This is possibly the mechanism that is causing the positive brain health effects. The same study also found that a high intake of anthocyanidins and total flavonoids were also linked to the beneficial cognitive effects.

Keep reading to discover other amazing health benefits of flavonoids…

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Anne S.

4:22PM PDT on Sep 6, 2012

Thank you for sharing. I have been reading about the many medical benefits of berries lately, so they seem to be a good choice for any number of reasons. In addition to diet, I think that stress reduction and lifestyle also play a role in slowing brain aging. Belleruth Naparstek has a list of tips (http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/update-from-belleruth/tips-for-age-proofing-your-brain.html) based on research that I have been trying to follow.

September 6
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Norma V.

10:42AM PDT on Sep 3, 2012

Too bad strawberries are so porous and retain pesticides and toxins.

September 3
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Christa D.

8:10PM PDT on Aug 31, 2012

Yummy and good for you

August 31
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Robert B.

7:04PM PDT on Aug 30, 2012

Blueberries are a great wonder food.

August 30
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Lindsay K.

10:40AM PDT on Aug 30, 2012

Interesting - thanks

Spirit S.

5:15AM PDT on Aug 29, 2012

Yum

August 29
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Michael B.

9:38AM PDT on Aug 27, 2012

Thanks for sharing. Does anyone know if this extends to jams (e.g. strawberry jam, blueberry jam, etc.)?

August 27
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Miranda P.

11:26PM PDT on Aug 26, 2012

Nature supplies all our needs, lets nature her too! If we eat these amazing berries we would not have to worry about alzheimers or dementia. How great is that!

August 26
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Patricia H.

11:02PM PDT on Aug 26, 2012

thanks for sharing

Juliet D.

3:07PM PDT on Aug 26, 2012

Yay for stuff we don't have to import! Right now there's so much hype about acai- even though you can get the same nutrients from combinations of other berries. A lot of forest along the Amazon river has been cleared for acai plantations. Let's stop this fad now.