(26-05-13) Study finds berries clear amyloid brain tangles to help fight Alzheimer's dementia

by John Phillip

(NaturalNews) Positive health benefits abound in the multi-colored flavonoids
found in all berries, especially blueberries and strawberries. Nutrition
experts and a wealth of scientific reports show that berry consumption lowers
levels of dangerous inflammation within the trillions of cells throughout our
body, and can lower the risk of developing vascular disorders, diabetes and
metabolic syndrome.

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most feared and devastating illnesses that
plague aging adults today. New research posits that eating berries regularly
can help clear the protein tangles that exhibit frequently with many dementias
as well as other chronic brain diseases. A research team from the Human
Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University provides evidence to
demonstrate how diets supplemented with blueberries and strawberries improve
behavior and cognitive functions in a well established animal model known to
parallel human metabolism.

Berries lower inflammation and oxidative stress to help preserve cognitive
function
Releasing findings detailing their work to the Federation of American
Societies for Experimental Biology, the study team fed rats a berry diet for
two months and then looked at their brains for signs of brain dysfunction after
irradiation, a model designed to accelerate the aging process. The animals were
divided into two groups; one was evaluated after 36 hours of radiation and the
other after 30 days. The scientists looked for neurochemical changes in the
brain, particularly through a process called autophagy which can regulate the
synthesis, degradation and recycling of cellular components.

Autophagy is also the primary means utilized to clear dangerous amyloid beta
protein tangles from the brain before they deteriorate synaptic function
resulting in cognitive decline and advancing dementia. Lead study author, Dr.
Shibu Poulose concluded "After 30 days on the same berry diet, the rats
experienced significant protection against radiation compared to control... we
saw significant benefits to diets with both of the berries, and speculate it is
due to the phytonutrients present."

Researchers determined that flavonoids from the berries promote autophagy, the
brain's natural housekeeping mechanism, and thereby reduces the toxic
accumulation of protein clumps most frequently seen in Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's disease cases. Berries may provide a powerful preventive shield
against brain function deterioration when included as part of a healthy diet,
regular physical activity and brain exercises designed to stimulate the brain
through new learning experiences.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/259489.php

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130421153459.htm

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