Cherry juice improves memory in dementia

Posted on Wed, 30 Mar 16

While the multi-billion-dollar search for dementia drug-treatments continues, a solution might be quite literally growing on trees.   

Phytonutrient-rich plant foods such berries, dark-skinned grapes, walnuts, green-leafy vegetables, herbs, spices, cocoa and tea have demonstrated neuro-protective effects and the ability to enhance cognitive function, mood and memory with a number of human clinical studies now demonstrating such benefits (1). In contrast, there is no drug for dementia that has anything more than a small symptomatic effect with little to no effect on disease progression (2).

The multi-targeted and demonstrated therapeutic effects of plant-foods, along with their wide-availability, relatively low cost and excellent safety makes them a strong candidate “medicine” for dementia prevention and treatment when compared to synthetic drugs. 

Adding to the list of brain foods, a recent study assessed the effective of cherry juice in older adults with mild-to-moderate dementia (3). 

Over 12-weeks it was found that 200ml of anthocyanin-rich (69mg per 100ml) cherry juice daily improved measures of memory and cognition (verbal fluency, short-term and long-term memory) when compared to a low- anthocyanin “placebo” juice. The anthocyanin-rich cherry juice also significantly reduced blood pressure suggesting a positive side-effect is improved cardiovascular health.

“The potential of flavonoids to improve cognitive outcomes for older adults with Alzheimer’s-type dementia cannot be underestimated,” commented the study authors, “and a notable strength of this study is the very low possibility of any harm to this vulnerable group. Further research is required to improve the knowledge base to inform dietary recommendations for this patient group, as an adjunct to traditional dementia treatment.”

As part of an integrative plan to reverse early symptoms of cognitive decline, phytonutrient rich foods such as cherries may be a useful therapy.

References: 

1. Vauzour D. Effect of flavonoids on learning, memory and neurocognitive performance: relevance and potential implications for Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology. J Sci Food Agric. 2014 Apr;94(6):1042-56.
2. Bredesen DE. Reversal of cognitive decline: a novel therapeutic program. Aging (Albany NY). 2014 Sep;6(9):707-17.
3. Kent K, Charlton K, Roodenrys S, Batterham M, Potter J, Traynor V, Gilbert H,  Morgan O, Richards R. Consumption of anthocyanin-rich cherry juice for 12 weeks improves memory and cognition in older adults with mild-to-moderate dementia. Eur J Nutr. 2015 Oct 19. [Epub ahead of print]