Anthocyanin-Rich Supplementation Associated with Improved Processing Speed in Older Adults

by | Apr 10, 2023 | 2023, Brain Health, Cognitive Health, Fruits and Vegetables

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. Results of this systemic review and meta-analysis of 13 RCTs shows that anthocyanin-rich supplementation significantly improved the processing speed of the older adults (p = 0.004). 

aging womanBy 2030, an estimated one in five Americans will be 65 years of age or older and, therefore, the prevention and treatment of chronic age-related diseases are of growing public health significance1. As the population continues to age, the worldwide prevalence of dementia is predicted to triple to 152 million people within the next three decades2. Cognitive decline exacerbates broad social and economic issues, including depression, social withdrawal, difficulties performing everyday tasks, drastic reductions in quality of life and greater reliance on others3.

The interest on dietary and nutritional components as potential modifiable factors for postponing the onset and severity of age-related cognitive function deterioration has grown in recent decades4. Anthocyanins are a class of flavonoid polyphenols that has been studied for both its functional and mechanistic effects on motor function and enhancements of neuronal resilience and cerebral blood flow5. Several studies have confirmed the efficacy of anthocyanins in neurodegeneration due to their anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities, which act against the main hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases6.

Feng et al. conducted a systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to explore the effect of anthocyanin supplementation on cognition in both cognitively healthy middle-aged and older adults using neuropsychological assessments and neuroimaging. Inclusion criteria consisted of having participants who were aged 40 years and above with no known diagnosis of cognitive impairment, interventions with various forms of dietary products that were rich in naturally occurring anthocyanins, dietary placebo or control treatments that contained negligible amounts of anthocyanins, and the use of neuropsychological tests or neuroimaging methods to evaluate participant’s cognitive performance.

A total of 13 studies were included in the review. Sample sizes of the studies ranged from 14 to 190 subjects, with a total of 871 participants being enrolled. Of the 871 subjects, 149 were middle-aged adults (mean age 40-55 years) and the remaining subjects were older adults (mean age above 55 years). Six of the included RCTs used blueberry-containing products, two used grape-containing products, one used the extract from both blueberry and grape, one used blackcurrant extract, one used chokeberry extract, one used cherry concentrate, and one used a beverage containing mixed berries. All RCTs used placebo products as their control.

Neuropsychological tests used in the studies were organized into five neurocognitive domains for synthesis: memory, processing speed, attention, executive function, and psychomotor performance. Three studies included neuroimaging methods to detect brain perfusion and brain activity. Significant findings of the study are as follows:

  • The one trial that used a global cognitive test to measure participants’ cognitive performance reported significant improvement in the Mini-Mental State Examination scores (p < 0.0001) and Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status scores (p < 0.0001) of older participants after receiving 12 weeks of dietary supplementation with grapes.
  • The two studies using neuroimaging methods observed a significant increase relative to baseline (p < 0.001) in the brain activation responses from fMRI of the participants following the consumption of blueberries over a 12-week period. Furthermore, they detected a significant elevation in cerebral blood flow to the grey matter in the parietal (p = 0.013) and occipital lobes (p = 0.031).
  • Anthocyanin-rich supplementation was found to significantly improve the processing speed of older adults (95% CI 0.08, 0.44; p = 0.004).

Results of the study show that consumption of anthocyanin-rich supplementation significantly benefitted the processing speed of older adults. Study limitations include the small sample size of various included RCTs, lack of monitoring subject compliance, and the diverse neuropsychological tests used in the studies. Further research should continue to explore the beneficial effects of anthocyanin-rich supplementation on cognitive functioning in older adults.

Source: Feng, Ruo Chen, Yan Hong Dong, Xian Li Hong, Ya Su, and Xi Vivien Wu. “Effects of anthocyanin-rich supplementation on cognition of the cognitively healthy middle-aged and older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” Nutrition Reviews 81, no. 3 (2023): 287-303.

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Posted April 10, 2023.

Taylor Woosley studied biology at Purdue University before becoming a 2016 graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a major in Writing. She currently resides in Glen Ellyn, IL.

References:

  1. Gonzales MM, Garbarino VR, Pollet E, et al. Biological aging processes underlying cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease. J Clin Invest. May 16 2022;132(10)doi:10.1172/jci158453
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  3. Connell E, Le Gall G, Pontifex MG, et al. Microbial-derived metabolites as a risk factor of age-related cognitive decline and dementia. Mol Neurodegener. Jun 17 2022;17(1):43. doi:10.1186/s13024-022-00548-6
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