Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. It damages and kills brain cells over time. This results in loss of memory, speaking and writing difficulties and a decrease in reasoning. Some research indicates that blueberries and pomegranates contain high levels of antioxidants called polyphenols, which might offer protection against Alzheimer's disease.
Blueberries
Researchers from the National Institute on Aging, Tufts University and Louisiana State University System investigated the impact of blueberries on neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease. Rats were fed a diet with or without blueberry extract for eight weeks. Afterward, rats were randomly assigned a phosphate buffered saline or kainic acids, both of which replicate the neuronal loss associated with neurodegenerative disease. The rats then were given a maze test. At the end of the study, published in the June 2007 issue of the journal "Neurobiology of Aging," researchers found that mice fed the blueberry extract performed better and experienced significantly less brain cell loss than those without blueberry extract.
Iron Chelators
Research reported in the December 2010 issue of the journal "Archives of Toxicology" explored the relationship between blueberries and purple fruits on hydroxyl radicals, associated with causing neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. They discovered that blueberries and purple fruits possess iron chelators, which bond tightly to iron and prevent the production of hydroxyl radicals.
Memory
Scientists from Tufts University examined the effects of blueberry juice on older adults with early memory decline. For 12 weeks, subjects consumed blueberry juice or a placebo. Researchers reported in the January 2010 issue of the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" that subjects who drank blueberry juice did better on learning and memory tests than those with a placebo. Researchers stated that blueberry consumption may slow down neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Pomegranate
In research reported in the October 2006 issue of "Neurobiology of Disease," scientists studied the impact of pomegranate juice on proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease. Mice were injected with amyloid precursor protein, which leads to Alzheimer's disease. They consumed pomegranate juice or plain water and subsequently were given a maze test. Scientists found that the pomegranate group performed better on the maze test than the water group.
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