Berries Slow Down The Aging Of The Brain
Author: Maryam Ayres
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
Regular consumption of strawberries, blueberries and blackberries is able to slow down the degenerative processes in the brain and prevent cognitive impairment ...
Scientists from the American Chemical Society have for the first time found evidence that the use of such fruits as strawberries, blackberries and blueberries slows down the aging of the brain, reports The Telegraph.
These conclusions were made on the basis of a study conducted on rats. For two months, the rodents were fed a variety of fruits and subjected to tests to determine the ability to perceive, acquire new habits and orientation.
The results of the experiment show that in mice that were on a "strawberry diet", all mental indicators increased.
Strawberries, like most plants of the genus Rosaceae, are high in polyphenols in their fruits. Polyphenols are chemical compounds that largely ensure the normal functioning of the brain. According to the authors of the study, regular consumption of strawberries, blueberries and blackberries is able to slow down the degenerative processes in the brain and prevent cognitive impairment.
"The polyphenols contained in fruits, vegetables and nuts have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, thus they can slow down the aging process of all types of tissues, including brain tissue." - says one of the researchers Shibu Poulose.
As it turned out, polyphenols also have a beneficial effect on microglia - a special type of glial cells of the central nervous system, performing the function of phagocytes.
Microglia protect nerve cells from various infections and damage, as well as participate in the removal of waste products left over from the destruction of nerve tissue, including toxic proteins associated with age-related memory impairment and impaired intellectual ability.
"In the aging process of microglia, the normal functioning of nerve cells in the brain is less controlled. In addition, microglia begin to phagocytose more actively and even damage healthy brain cells," says Poulose. "Our research shows that the polyphenols contained in berries are able to restore the normal functioning of microglia and brain cells," - he added.
According to the authors of the study, the best source of polyphenols is not dietary supplements, but the consumption of fresh strawberries, blueberries and blackberries, as they contain chemicals and antioxidants are easily and quickly absorbed by the body.
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