Enhanced task-related brain activation and resting perfusion in healthy older adults after chronic blueberry supplementation
Bowtell JL, Aboo-Bakkar Z, Conway ME, Adlam AR, Fulford J
Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme · 146 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
- Intake measured by
- Food provided by researchers
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Government
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
Based on 1 listed funder(s).
Publication
- Published
- 2017-03-01 · Appl Physiol Nutr Metab · vol. 42 · issue 7 · pp. 773–779
- Publisher
- NRC Research Press
- Cited
- 200 citations · more than 100% of similar papers · 23.3× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 33 works
- Access
- Open access (repository copy) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Ginkgo biloba and Cashew Applications · Botanical Studies and Applications · Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
- Keywords
- Medicine, Internal medicine, Cardiology, Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Physical therapy, Gerontology, Physiology
- MeSH
- brain, humans, fruit, inflammation, malondialdehyde, spin labels, flavonoids, anthocyanins, glutathione, c-reactive protein, plant preparations, antioxidants, magnetic resonance imaging, body mass index, double-blind method, cognition, oxidative stress, rest, dietary supplements, adult, aged, middle aged, female, male, protein carbonylation, biomarkers, blueberry plants
5 authors
From GB
- Joanna L. BowtellUniversity of Exeter
- Zainie Aboo BakkarUniversity of Exeter
- Myra E. ConwayUniversity of the West of England
- Anna AdlamUniversity of Exeter
- Jonathan FulfordUniversity of Exeter
Abstract
Blueberries are rich in flavonoids, which possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. High flavonoid intakes attenuate age-related cognitive decline, but data from human intervention studies are sparse. We investigated whether 12 weeks of blueberry concentrate supplementation improved brain perfusion, task-related activation, and cognitive function in healthy older adults. Participants were randomised to consume either 30 mL blueberry concentrate providing 387 mg anthocyanidins (5 female, 7 male; age 67.5 ± 3.0 y; body mass index, 25.9 ± 3.3 kg·m-2) or isoenergetic placebo (8 female, 6 male; age 69.0 ± 3.3 y; body mass index, 27.1 ± 4.0 kg·m-2). Pre- and postsupplementation, participants undertook a battery of cognitive function tests and a numerical Stroop test within a 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging scanner while functional magnetic resonance images were continuously acquired. Quantitative resting brain perfusion was determined using an arterial spin labelling technique, and blood biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress were measured. Significant increases in brain activity were observed in response to blueberry supplementation relative to the placebo group within Brodmann areas 4/6/10/21/40/44/45, precuneus, anterior cingulate, and insula/thalamus (p < 0.001) as well as significant improvements in grey matter perfusion in the parietal (5.0 ± 1.8 vs -2.9 ± 2.4%, p = 0.013) and occipital (8.0 ± 2.6 vs -0.7 ± 3.2%, p = 0.031) lobes. There was also evidence suggesting improvement in working memory (2-back test) after blueberry versus placebo supplementation (p = 0.05). Supplementation with an anthocyanin-rich blueberry concentrate improved brain perfusion and activation in brain areas associated with cognitive function in healthy older adults.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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