(Cognition) New research findings show American elderberry juice may help mental functioning in older adults
New research findings show American elderberry juice may help mental functioning in older adults
University of Missouri, The Center for Agroforestry
Madison Musich, M.A and David Beversdorf, MD
January 23, 2025
Foods that have high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents have been shown to benefit mental abilities, including memory and skills for planning, making decisions, and staying organized. In particular, eating or drinking juice from red, blue, and purple berries have been shown to help aging adults with thinking and memory. A recent study by a cross-disciplinary team of researchers contributes to this growing body of literature by taking a close look at how drinking American elderberry juice for six months affected the thinking skills of older adults with impaired memory abilities.
In the study, 11 adults (aged 50+ years) with memory problems drank 5 mL of elderberry juice three times a day, while 13 adults with memory problems drank an artificial beverage without any health effects. The artificial beverage had a similar taste and color to the elderberry juice with no special nutrients. The adults in the study were tested on their mental thinking and memory abilities at the start of the study, three months later, and after six months. The researchers measured how well the adults did on memory tasks, solving puzzles, and switching between tasks. They were scored on how accurately they finished the tasks and how long it took for task completion.
The study results showed the adults with memory problems who drank the elderberry juice over six months improved in switching tasks, compared to the older adults who drank the artificial beverage. There were no improvements or changes in other mental ability areas. These findings suggest that elderberry juice may help reduce inflammation and improve brain functioning in older adults with impaired memory abilities.
In a previous study, the research team found improvements on a number of proteins associated with inflammation after consuming American elderberry juice. Research has shown that inflammation levels can make thinking and memory problems worse in aging adults and can even lead to dementia. Preliminary findings show that parts of elderberries may help protect against poor brain health. Yet, more studies are needed to confirm and build upon the study’s findings related specifically to American elderberry and cognitive health, and to investigate whether American elderberry may be a viable treatment option for adults experiencing impaired memory function.
Link to full article: https://centerforagroforestry.org/new-research-findings-show-american-elderberry-juice-may-help-mental-functioning-in-older-adults/