Research shows that consumption of cherry juice and blueberries can contribute to smoother aging in older adults.
In one study published in Food & Function, researchers from the University of Delaware found that daily intake of Montmorency tart cherry juice improved memory scores among adults aged 65 to 73 years.
The study included 34 participants who were assigned to consume either Montmorency tart cherry juice or a placebo drink every day for 12 weeks. After the trial period, those in the treatment group exhibited improved scores in both cognitive function and subjective memory.
Specifically, they showed a 5% increase in satisfaction with their ability to remember things, a 23% reduction in errors during a visual memory task and a 3% improvement in visual sustained attention. The high compliance rate (94.2%) suggested that adding Montmorency tart cherry juice was a manageable addition to daily routines.
A collection of studies from The Journals of Gerontology researched the health benefits of blueberries in aging.
One investigation showed that consuming roughly one cup of blueberries a day can improve blood vessel function and decrease systolic blood pressure in seniors. Another showed that blueberries’ high polyphenol count helped improve memory in older adults who had mild cognitive impairment.
From the September 2019 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
