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June 2, 2008Drinking polyphenol-rich Concord grape juice may improve memory in older adults |
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From EurekAlert! - Breaking News: Research supports that good nutrition -- particularly a diet including phytonutrient-rich fruits, vegetables and their juices -- plays an important role in the aging process and may help slow and possibly even reverse age-related physical and mental declines. Results from a recent pilot human study suggest that including Concord grape juice in the diet may provide benefit for older adults with early memory decline. This study represents the first placebo-controlled human study to investigate whether regular consumption of a polyphenol-rich food or beverage could have beneficial effects against age-related cognitive decline. The study, led by Robert Krikorian, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, included 12 adults with early memory decline. Participants drank a total of 15 to 21 ounces, depending on body weight, of either Concord grape juice or placebo daily, divided among meals, for a 12-week period. A simple, easy-to-incorporate dietary intervention that could improve or protect memory function, such as drinking Concord grape juice daily, may be beneficial for the aging population." Study collaborators included Tiffany Nash and Marcelle Shidler from the University of Cincinnati as well as James Joseph and Barbara Shukitt-Hale from the USDA-ARS Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. Joseph and Shukitt-Hale's ground-breaking animal research has previously shown that supplementation of certain polyphenol-rich fruits and vegetables resulted in improved cognitive function in animal models. Welch Foods, Inc. is committed to supporting independent research exploring the role of Concord grape juice in a healthy lifestyle and provided support for the University of Cincinnati study.
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