“We think the blue pigments in blueberries, the anthocyanins, which are a type of polyphenols also present in other foods such as strawberries, raspberries, red grapes and purple vegetables, are behind these effects as increases in their metabolites were seen in the urine of the volunteers after 12 weeks consumption.”
Professor Claire Williams, Chair of the Neuroscience Department for University of Reading, said: “It’s clear from this study that consuming wild blueberries is beneficial to cognitive function, as well as vascular health.
“The group who had the wild blueberry powder showed signs of better memory and greater mental flexibility when completing cognitive tasks. This is consistent with what we already know about the health benefits of anthocyanin-rich foods.
“It points to an important role of polyphenols in healthy ageing.”
