Phytochemical-rich foods have been shown to be effective at reversing age-related deficits in memory in both animals and humans. Specifically, blueberry were effective in reversing age-related deficits in neuronal signaling and behavioral parameters following 8 weeks of feeding, possibly due to their high flavonoid content. It has been reported that blueberry-supplemented diet may not only retard but also revert declining brain functions due to aging. Young and old rats were trained to memorize objects shown them an hour ago. Old rats receiving 2% of their meals as blueberries performed as young rats while old rats on regular diet failed to memorize the objects at al. In several regions of the brain, old control diet rats had significantly higher levels of so called nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) than young animals on the control diet and old rats eating blueberries (Nutritional Neuroscience, V 7, No 2, 2004, 5-83-9). NF-κB is known for its involvement in vulnerability of neurons to “excitotoxicity” – a toxic biochemical condition occurring during neuronal hyperactivity (Synapse. 2000 Feb;35(2):151-9). Errors in regulation of NF-κB may lead to cancer, inflammation and improper immune development. To resist excitotoxicity, there’s so called Brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF, which function is to help supporting the survival of neurons. Recent data (Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 45, 3, 008, 295-305) on blueberry supplementation may indicate that changes in working memory in aged animals are linked to the effects of flavonoids on BDNF.
It was unclear if phytonutrients from blueberries were able to cross the blood-brain barrier and directly access the brain. Researchers in Barcelona, Spain, investigated this issue. They took old rats and fed them a diet containing 2% blueberries for 2 to 2.5 months, than tested the rats for learning and memory. in the brain areas participating in learning and memory processing and storing – cerebellum, cortex, hippocampus or striatum, 14 antioxidant substances found. The antioxidant content correlated with improvements in learning and memory normally declined in old age rats (and humans). In control rats of same age fed on regular diet, there were no changes in bioche
Phytochemical-rich foods have been shown to be effective at reversing age-related deficits in memory in both animals and humans. Specifically, blueberry were effective in reversing age-related deficits in neuronal signaling and behavioral parameters following 8 weeks of feeding, possibly due to their high flavonoid content. It has been reported that blueberry-supplemented diet may not only retard but also revert declining brain functions due to aging. Young and old rats were trained to memorize objects shown them an hour ago. Old rats receiving 2% of their meals as blueberries performed as young rats while old rats on regular diet failed to memorize the objects at al. In several regions of the brain, old control diet rats had significantly higher levels of so called nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) than young animals on the control diet and old rats eating blueberries (Nutritional Neuroscience, V 7, No 2, 2004, 5-83-9). NF-κB is known for its involvement in vulnerability of neurons to “excitotoxicity” – a toxic biochemical condition occurring during neuronal hyperactivity (Synapse. 2000 Feb;35(2):151-9). Errors in regulation of NF-κB may lead to cancer, inflammation and improper immune development. To resist excitotoxicity, there’s so called Brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF, which function is to help supporting the survival of neurons. Recent data (Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 45, 3, 008, 295-305) on blueberry supplementation may indicate that changes in working memory in aged animals are linked to the effects of flavonoids on BDNF.
It was unclear if phytonutrients from blueberries were able to cross the blood-brain barrier and directly access the brain. Researchers in Barcelona, Spain, investigated this issue. They took old rats and fed them a diet containing 2% blueberries for 2 to 2.5 months, than tested the rats for learning and memory. in the brain areas participating in learning and memory processing and storing – cerebellum, cortex, hippocampus or striatum, 14 antioxidant substances found. The antioxidant content correlated with improvements in learning and memory normally declined in old age rats (and humans). In control rats of same age fed on regular diet, there were no changes in bioche
[...] Blueberries, aging, learning, and memory [...]
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