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Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults
Krikorian R, Shidler MD, Nash TA, Kalt W, Vinqvist-Tymchuk MR, Shukitt-Hale B, Joseph JA.. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2010-04-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The prevalence of dementia is increasing with expansion of the older adult population. In the absence of effective therapy, preventive approaches are essential to address this public health problem. Blueberries contain polyphenolic compounds, most prominently anthocyanins, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, anthocyanins have been associated with increased neuronal signaling in brain centers, mediating memory function as well as improved glucose disposal, benefits that would be expected to mitigate neurodegeneration. This study investigated the effects of daily consumption of wild blueberry juice in a sample of nine older adults with early memory changes. At 12 weeks, improved paired associate learning (p = 0.009) and word list recall (p = 0.04) were observed. In addition, there were trends suggesting reduced depressive symptoms (p = 0.08) and lower glucose levels (p = 0.10). We also compared the memory performances of the blueberry subjects with a demographically matched sample who consumed a berry placebo beverage in a companion trial of identical design and observed comparable results for paired associate learning. The findings of this preliminary study suggest that moderate-term blueberry supplementation can confer neurocognitive benefit and establish a basis for more comprehensive human trials to study preventive potential and neuronal mechanisms.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Krikorian, R., Shidler, M. D., Nash, T. A., Kalt, W., Vinqvist-Tymchuk, M. R., Shukitt-Hale, B., et al. (2010). Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf9029332
Vancouver
Krikorian R, Shidler MD, Nash TA, Kalt W, Vinqvist-Tymchuk MR, Shukitt-Hale B, et al. Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. 2010. doi:10.1021/jf9029332. PMID: 20047325.
BibTeX
@article{krikorian2010-20047325,
author = {Krikorian, R. and Shidler, M. D. and Nash, T. A. and Kalt, W. and Vinqvist-Tymchuk, M. R. and Shukitt-Hale, B. and Joseph, J. A.},
title = {{Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults}},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1021/jf9029332},
pmid = {20047325},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1021/jf9029332}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- In addition, anthocyanins have been associated with increased neuronal signaling in brain centers, mediating memory function as well as improved glucose disposal, benefits that would be expected to mitigate neurodegeneration.
- We also compared the memory performances of the blueberry subjects with a demographically matched sample who consumed a berry placebo beverage in a companion trial of identical design and observed comparable results for paired associate learning.
- The findings of this preliminary study suggest that moderate-term blueberry supplementation can confer neurocognitive benefit and establish a basis for more comprehensive human trials to study preventive potential and neuronal mechanisms.
Why it matters
In a preliminary study of nine older adults with early memory changes, 12 weeks of daily wild blueberry juice was followed by better scores on paired associate learning (p = 0.009) and word list recall (p = 0.04); lower mood symptoms and glucose were only non-significant trends. The trial had no placebo arm of its own, and when compared with a matched group from a companion trial who drank a berry placebo beverage, results for paired associate learning were "comparable". The authors present it as a basis for larger trials, not as evidence that blueberries prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of agricultural and food chemistry) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry: journal h-index 419 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 576 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 32.0 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 18.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 7 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 94 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author James A. Joseph: h-index 64 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Tufts University: institution h-index 1,045 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 20047325) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
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