Berries and The Brain

By Justin Wiggins
Berries could be a tasty way to improve brain health in older adults. Researchers from the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s human nutrition research center at Tufts University held a study to find evidence of any positive effects of berries on the brain.
According to Barbara Shukitt-Hale, who led the study, longer life-spans are raising concerns about the human toll and health care costs of treating diseases that cause mental decline, like Alzheimer’s disease. The study extensively reviewed cellular, animal and human studies to complete the research.
According to Shukitt-Hale, berry fruits could help the brain to retain health in several ways. Berry fruits contain high levels of antioxidants that can protect the brain from oxidative stress produced by harmful free radicals. The phytochemicals from berries can enhance the way neurons in the brain communicate and can prevent inflammation in the brain that contribute to neuronal damage and improve both motor and cognitive skills.
“’In cell and animal models, berry fruits mediate signaling pathways involved in inflammation and cell survival in addition to enhancing neuroplasticity, neurotransmission, and calcium buffering, all of which lead to attenuation of age- and pathology- related deficits in behavior,” they wrote.
This study is a good stepping stone to finding out if berries could boost brain health in the aging population. A diet rich in berries–or otherwise in antioxidants–can protect against oxidative stress and improve communication pathways within the brain, which the older population will be happy to benefit from just as much as the rest of us.