Blueberries for Your Brain

United States Department of Agriculture scientists are conducting some rather interesting animal experiments with blueberry extracts.  In one experiment they fed blueberry extracts to middle-aged mice that were already developing brain plaque (similar to early onset Alzheimer’s).  The blueberry did not get rid of the plaque, rather it improved brain function so that the blueberry fed rats had similar cognitive abilities to mice with no brain plaques and significantly better cognitive function than mice with brain plaques who were not fed blueberry extract.  Researchers identified that the blueberries improved the function of brain enzymes known as kinases, in turn helping cognitive function even in the presence of the plaque. 

In another experiment rats fed blueberry extract developed more new neuronal growth than controls.  This finding is significant because the ability to generate new nerve cell function is vital to maintaining cognitive function, nerve-related communication, and brain health.

This great information about blueberries is in addition to their ability to support healthy cholesterol and blood sugar metabolism.