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ABSTRACT
Background
As the sector of the population over 65y increases, cognitive decline and dementia become a public health issue. Interventions to improve brain health and thus, quality of life for older adults are needed.
Objective
It was hypothesized that those consuming a flavonoid-rich, lyophilized wild blueberry powder would evidence improvements in cognitive performance as measured behaviorally and electrophysiologically compared to those consuming a placebo powder across a 6-month intervention period.
Design
In a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial, participants experiencing cognitive issues as determined by scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were randomized to consume either wild blueberry (n = 44) or placebo (n = 42) powder daily for 6 months. Participants who were not experiencing any cognitive issues were included as a reference group (n = 45). Participants were tested at baseline and outcome on the Cambridge Neurological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and in an electrophysiological paradigm known as event-related potentials (ERP).
Results
Tests of specific cognitive abilities using the CANTAB showed speed of processing not only improved in the blueberry intervention group relative to the placebo group across the 6-month intervention, but blueberries also restored speed of processing to the level of the reference group. The ERP results also showed that, relative to those consuming placebo, speed of processing improved for those in the blueberry group; this improvement was most prominent in those 75-80y.
Conclusions
Consumption of wild blueberries for six months improves cognitive aging sequelae by improving the speed of information processing in older adults.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01515098.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the participants for their time and dedication to this project. In addition to the participants, the project had community support in the form of focus groups and participation on the BERRY Advisory Board, which were instrumental in finalizing the protocol and recruiting plans. We thank these community members for their time. It was a herculean effort by all. In addition, we thank Kim Adams, Christa Thomas, Andrea Armer, and a myriad of interns for their tireless work in support of this project. We also would like to thank Tondra Blevins and the other staff in the clinical suite at the UNC-CH Nutrition Research Institute for their support with sample collection. The UNC-CH Nutrition Research Institute deserves a special thank you for providing space and equipment for the project. Of course, we thank the Wild Blueberry Association of North America for providing the fruit.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Conflict of interest statement
No authors have any conflict of interests to disclose.
Data availability statement
Data described in the manuscript, the code book, and the analytic code will be made available upon request pending approval by the authors and signed agreements.
Abbreviations:
AD, Alzheimer’s disease; CANTAB, Cambridge Neurological Test Automated Battery; ERP, event-related potentials; fMRI, functional magnetic resonance imaging; MCI, mild cognitive impairment; MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment
This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov #NCT01515098.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Carol L. Cheatham
Carol L. Cheatham is a developmental cognitive neuroscientist with a joint appointment in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Department of Psychology & Neuroscience and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Nutrition Research Institute. Her research focuses on the effects of nutrition on brain development and function.
L. Grant Canipe
L. Grant Canipe III is an Assistant Professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Dallas campus), where he leads the scientific and research competency education for the PsyD in Clinical Psychology program. His research interests include cognitive aging and the creation of outreach programs to bridge the gap between the clinical and research communities.
Grace Millsap
Grace Millsap served as the project coordinator on this study. She is passionate about research with a specific interest in the effects of yoga on the function of the brain.
Julie M. Stegall
Julie M. Stegall After receiving her MSW at UNC Chapel Hill, Julie worked in many different settings with families, children, and individuals of all ages before eventually landing in research. Julie currently coordinates research studies at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute where she has worked since 2009.
Sheau Ching Chai
Sheau Ching Chai, PhD, RD is an Associate Professor at the University of Delaware. Dr. Chai's primary research includes the investigation of functional foods and chronic disease prevention as well as the development of interventions to improve nutrition-related health outcomes for older adults and postmenopausal women.
Kelly W. Sheppard
Kelly W. Sheppard graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2016 with a Ph.D. in Psychology. She investigated the role of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in cognitive abilities in school-age children. She currently works on translational drug development research contracts.
Mary Ann Lila
Mary Ann Lila is Director of the Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Research Campus. She holds the David H. Murdock Distinguished Professorship, and is a Professor in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences. Lila has ongoing research projects in Australia, New Zealand, and various countries in Europe and Africa, and is Vice President of the Global Institute for BioExploration (GIBEX).