Blueberry juice 'lowers dementia risk'
New research has suggested that a daily diet of blueberry juice may be effective in slowing the onset of dementia.
A study conducted by the American Chemical Society and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggested that the drink could help to slow or even prevent the memory loss which signifies the start of dementia.
The research involved scientists from the University of Cincinnati, the US Department of Agriculture and the Canadian Department of Agriculture, who separated two groups of test subjects and gave one a daily portion of blueberry juice for two months and the others an alternative.
Participants from each group were asked to perform memory tests before and after the study and the experts found that those who drank blueberry juice were more likely to see an improvement in their ability to remember.
A spokesman for the Alzheimer's Society welcomed the findings and said it could play a key role in battling a condition which is estimated to affect over one million Britons by 2025.
He added that blueberry juice alone may not be the only way to prevent memory loss, however, as following a generally healthy diet has been shown to help people improve or retain their memory.
Evidence suggested antioxidants found in fruit, vegetables, tea and even red wine can help to prevent oxidation, a process associated with cell damage and ageing
The US research team said that people over the age of 70, who are generally most susceptible to the condition, also improved their learning skills by drinking blueberry juice and said that further tests may now determine whether widespread supplementation should be recommended.
Posted by Stephen Tate
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