BLUEBERRIES may protect middle-aged people from developing dementia, a study has found.
Patients aged 50 to 65 with memory problems who took a supplement containing blueberry powder for 12 weeks performed better on mental tests.
The fruit is high in micronutrients and antioxidants called anthocyanins.
These give blueberries their color, but also protect against radiation exposure and infection.
About 900,000 people are living with dementia in the UK and the number is expected to rise.
US expert Prof. Robert Krikorian of the University of Cincinnati said: “We had observed cognitive benefits of blueberries in previous studies with older adults and thought they might be effective in younger individuals with insulin resistance.
“Alzheimer’s disease, like all chronic diseases of old age, develops over many years, beginning in middle age.”
“The same properties that help blueberries survive also provide benefits such as reducing inflammation, improving metabolic function and improving energy production.”
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