A recently published article in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition aims to analyze how consumption of freeze-dried cranberries affects cognitive function. Cognitive decline occurs as people age, however, there are certain controllable factors that may help protect against the decline. While diet is considered to be a controllable factor against cognitive decline, there is scarce research on how cranberries affect cognitive function in older adults.
Researchers completed a 12-week parallel randomized placebo-controlled trial with 60 adults aged between 50-80 years. The study assessed cognitive assessment indicators such as memory and executive function, whole neuroimaging, and blood sample collection were conducted to estimate how daily cranberry consumption affects brain function and other biomarkers of neuronal signaling. The results showed that those individuals who had a cranberry supplementation were associated with improvement in visual episodic memory when compared to the placebo group. The researchers also observed a significant decrease in low-density lipoprotein ("bad") cholesterol.
In conclusion, the study yielded results that suggest that daily cranberry consumption may help improve episodic memory performance and neural functioning in older adults.
Flanagan, E., Cameron, D., Sobhan, R., Wong, C., Pontifex, M. G., Tosi, N., … & Vauzour, D. (2022). Chronic consumption of Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) for 12 weeks improves episodic memory and regional brain perfusion in healthy older adults: A randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-groups feasibility study. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9.
Researchers completed a 12-week parallel randomized placebo-controlled trial with 60 adults aged between 50-80 years. The study assessed cognitive assessment indicators such as memory and executive function, whole neuroimaging, and blood sample collection were conducted to estimate how daily cranberry consumption affects brain function and other biomarkers of neuronal signaling. The results showed that those individuals who had a cranberry supplementation were associated with improvement in visual episodic memory when compared to the placebo group. The researchers also observed a significant decrease in low-density lipoprotein ("bad") cholesterol.
In conclusion, the study yielded results that suggest that daily cranberry consumption may help improve episodic memory performance and neural functioning in older adults.
Flanagan, E., Cameron, D., Sobhan, R., Wong, C., Pontifex, M. G., Tosi, N., … & Vauzour, D. (2022). Chronic consumption of Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) for 12 weeks improves episodic memory and regional brain perfusion in healthy older adults: A randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-groups feasibility study. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9.