Blueberries are so rich in polyphenols that your brain functions better as a result. The berries do even better in combination with grapes or grape extract: berries and grapes enhance each other's effect. What can your brain expect from blueberries? Blueberries for a better brain The berries counteract cognitive decline and improve neuronal functions. These findings were recently published in the Journal of Nutritional Science. Although this was a mouse study, similar results have been achieved in humans. As we age, the memory deteriorates: this has to do with a reduced brain plasticity. Polyphenols modulate neuron plasticity and cognitive processes. Some polyphenols are flavan-3-ols, anthocyanins and resveratrol; both blueberries and grapes contain a lot of it. New brain cells When mice were fed a polyphenol-rich diet for 14 weeks, learning and memory greatly improved. In particular, the combination of grapes and blueberries prevented age-related learning and memory deficits. More importantly, the expression of nerve growth factors in the hippocampus (Ngf) increased. The mouse brains showed a greater amount of newly generated neurons, compared to the mice that had not followed the diet. Some of the consumed polyphenols were recovered in the brain in their original form or as metabolites. This suggests that polyphenols can prevent cognitive decline and modulate brain plasticity. Previous studies also show that polyphenols can delay age-related disorders. 1 2 The most important polyphenols are flavonoids, phenolic acids, stilbenes, lignans and tannins. 3 Combination blueberries & grapes Blueberries work synergistically with grape / grape juice. This means that grapes and berries enhance each other's effect. Grape juice or blueberries have also been shown to improve episodic memory performance in the elderly after 4 weeks of consumption. Grape juice and blueberry supplementation for 8 weeks in middle-aged mice prevented memory impairment. The synergic effect was also highlighted in a recent study: the phenolic metabolites of blueberries increased in the blood of mice when taken together with grape extract. The same study also revealed that chronic administration of a grape-berry combination caused a significant increase in phenol concentrations in the blood. The positive effect of polyphenol consumption on the brain also takes place through consumption of polyphenols from another source, such as olives. The emergence of new neurons and the survival of these newly emerged neurons was striking in this study, and is associated with their beneficial effects on behavior, learning, and memory.
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