Blueberries and Alzheimer Study

Blueberry supplementation enhances signaling and prevents behavioral deficits in an Alzheimer disease model.

Nutr Neurosci 2003 Jun;6(3):153-62 (ISSN: 1028-415X)
Joseph JA; Denisova NA; Arendash G; Gordon M; Diamond D; Shukitt-Hale B; Morgan D
USDA-HNRCA at Tufts University, 711 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, USA. james.joseph@tufts.edu

Previously, we showed that blueberry (BB) supplementation reversed the deleterious effects of aging on motor behavior and neuronal signaling in senescent rodents. We now report that BB-fed (from 4 months of age) APP + PS1 transgenic mice showed no deficits in Y-maze performance (at 12 months of age) with no alterations in amyloid beta burden. It appeared that the protective mechanisms are derived from BB-induced enhancement of memory-associated neuronal signaling (e.g. extracellular signal-regulated kinase) and alterations in neutral sphingomyelin-specific phospholipase C activity. Thus, our data indicate for the first time that it may be possible to overcome genetic predispositions to Alzheimer disease through diet.

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