Insights & Discussion
Blueberries and their products may improve certain measures of cognitive performance, particularly memory, and positively affect mood.
The systematic review process involved evaluating the results from randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of blueberries and blueberry products on cognitive performance and mood. A total of eleven articles, encompassing twelve studies, were examined. The studies employed various forms of blueberries - freeze-dried, whole, and concentrate. Different demographic groups were considered across the studies: children, young adults, and older people with or without known cognitive impairment. The studies considered the impact of consumed or supplemented blueberries, varied in dosage and duration, on cognitive performance, specifically in relation to both short-term and long-term memory, as well as spatial memory. Also, the studies investigated the effects on mood, particularly the potential enhancement of positive feelings.
The findings revealed that eight out of twelve studies reported an improvement in cognitive performance following the ingestion of blueberries, although variations in each specific study's design, dosage, and anthocyanin content made cross-study comparisons challenging. Regarding mood, out of five studies, only one study reported a significant improvement in mood upon consumption of blueberry products, while the others reported no significant change. Despite differences, all studies featured a low risk of bias overall, underscoring the perceived validity of these findings.
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Honey exhibits multifaceted benefits for brain health, acting as a memory booster, neuroprotective agent, anti-stress, and anti-nociceptive substance, fostering potential therapeutic applications to enhance overall cognitive well-being.
2023 Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience Honey on brain health: A promising brain booster Zamri NA, Ghani N, Ismail CAN, Zakaria R, Shafin N
Review Article Brain Health Cognitive Function Honey
This review scrutinizes 34 original articles exploring the impact of honey on brain health. Honey, traditionally known as a natural sweetener, emerges as a versatile substance with applications in nutrition, health supplementation, and brain health enhancement. The analysis identifies four key benefits: memory enhancement, neuroprotection, stress reduction, and pain alleviation. The review emphasizes the growing interest in understanding the mechanisms that underlie these effects, paving the way for potential therapeutic roles of honey in promoting cognitive well-being.
The literature review underscores the significant role of honey in brain health research, shedding light on its diverse benefits, including memory improvement, neuroprotection, stress mitigation, and pain relief. The emphasis on unraveling the underlying mechanisms reflects a broader interest in establishing honey's therapeutic potential for enhancing overall brain health. This comprehensive exploration of honey's effects on cognition opens avenues for developing novel therapeutic strategies harnessing honey's natural properties.
Blueberry consumption significantly improves two-back test accuracy, suggesting potential cognitive benefits.
2023 CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets The Potential Effect of Blueberry on Cognitive Health and Mood State based on Human Intervention Studies: Systematic Review and Mini Meta-Analysis Soveid N, Barkhidarian B, Moradi S, Gholami F, Rasaei N, Himmerich H, et al.
Meta-Analysis Blueberry Cognitive Function
Methodology: A comprehensive search was conducted in April 2021 for relevant clinical trials on blueberry supplementation and its effects on cognitive performance and mood. The search was conducted through PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar, and the random effect size was used to estimate the pooled effect size. Cochrane Q test and I-squared tests were used to evaluate heterogeneity between studies, and a subgroup analysis was done to detect potential sources of such heterogeneity. Fourteen randomized trials were included in the quantitative analysis, and six were pooled for statistical analysis.
Results: Blueberry intervention did not produce any significant impact on mood state score, attention task reaction time, or on the percentages of attention task accuracy. Similarly, it had no significant effect on one-back test accuracy. However, a noticeable positive effect was detected in two-back test accuracy, indicating possible cognitive benefits associated with blueberry consumption.
Consumption of wild blueberries over six months can improve cognitive performance and speed of processing information amongst older adults.
2022 Nutritional Neuroscience Six-month intervention with wild blueberries improved speed of processing in mild cognitive decline: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Cheatham CL, Canipe LG, Millsap G, Stegall JM, Chai SC, Sheppard KW, et al.
Randomised Controlled Trial Blueberry Brain Health Cognitive Function
The methodology of this research involved conducting a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial where participants with cognitive issues ascertained by Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores were asked to consume wild blueberry or placebo powder daily for a 6-month period. There was also a separate reference group involved, comprised of individuals devoid of any cognitive issues. These individuals were tested at the commencement and end of the trial using the Cambridge Neurological Test Automated Battery and an electrophysiological paradigm named event-related potentials.
The results presented disclosed a significant improvement in the speed of processing information in the group consuming blueberries compared to the placebo group over the 6-month intervention period. Additionally, the speed of this group's processing was re-established to the level of the reference group, revealing the restoration of cognitive abilities. The most distinct enhancement was noted in participants aged between 75-80 years in the blueberry group.
Regular walnut consumption is consistently linked to improved cognitive performance in adults, particularly those at higher risk of cognitive decline.
2020 Advances in Nutrition Nut Consumption for Cognitive Performance: A Systematic Review Lauren E Theodore, Nicole J Kellow, Emily A McNeil, Evangeline O Close, Eliza G Coad, Barbara R Cardoso, et al.
Systematic Review Cognitive Function Memory Walnut
The methodology of this review involved a systematic search of four different databases - Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL Plus, and Embase, from their inception through to April 2020. The search aimed to identify both interventional and observational studies that investigated the effect of nut intake on cognitive outcomes in adults aged 18 and above. The specific nuts studied included almonds, hazelnuts, macadamias, pistachios, walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, and peanuts. The review then selected the most relevant studies for further analysis; out of 2,374 identified articles, 22 met the criteria, with a combined participant count of 43,793.
The resulting discussion of this review's findings highlighted that, despite inconsistencies due to varying study designs and types of nuts studied, regular mixed nut intake could potentially protect cognitive function in different age groups. However, more notable was the recurrent evidence found in studies focusing on groups at a higher risk of cognitive impairment, which repeatedly reported improved outcomes. Particularly, studies specifically targeting walnut consumption consistently found it positively associated with enhanced cognitive performance. The review found homogeneous results within these walnut-centred studies, with only one out of six, including two randomized controlled trials, not reporting a positive association.
Daily consumption of decaffeinated green tea catechins may enhance working memory.
2020 Molecules Effect of Daily Intake of Green Tea Catechins on Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Subjects: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study Baba Y, Inagaki S, Nakagawa S, Kaneko T, Kobayashi M, Takihara T
Randomised Controlled Trial Cognitive Function Green Tea Green Tea Catechin
The study incorporated a double-blind, randomized, controlled approach to determine the effects of 336.4 mg of decaffeinated green tea catechins on cognitive function. It targeted Japanese adults, aged 50 to 69 years, exhibiting a Mini-Mental State Examination Japanese version score of over 24 and who self-identified as having cognitive decline. The experiment comprised administering a substance and then examining the cognitive function post a single dosage as well as following 12 weeks of everyday consumption. The Cognitrax testing battery was utilized to assess cognitive function.
In the results, it was observed that the incorrect response rate on the Continuous Performance Test significantly fell after a single dosage of green tea catechins. After 12 weeks of regular intake, the response duration for the two-back test in Part 4 of the 4-part Continuous Performance Test reduced, indicating potential improvement in working memory. The data suggests that consuming green tea catechins daily may potentially lead to cognitive enhancements, particularly in working memory.
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