Blueberries could protect middle-aged from developing dementia, study finds

BLUEBERRIES could protect the middle-aged from developing dementia, a study has found.

Patients aged 50 to 65 with memory problems who took a blueberry powder supplement for 12 weeks performed better in mental tests.

The fruit contains high levels of micronutrients and antioxidants called anthocyanins.

These give blueberries their colour, but also protect from radiation exposure and infections.

Around 900,000 people are living with dementia in the UK and numbers are predicted to rise.

US expert Prof Robert Krikorian, at Cincinnati University, said: “We had observed cognitive benefits with blueberries in prior studies with older adults and thought they might be effective in younger individuals with insulin resistance.

“Alzheimer’s disease, like all chronic diseases of ageing, develops over a period of many years beginning in midlife.”

“These same properties that help blueberries survive also provide benefits such as reducing inflammation, improving metabolic function and enhancing energy production.”