PD1019
BLUEBERRIES FOR BRAINPOWER: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS WITH BAYESIAN POST HOC ANALYSIS OF RCTS EXPLORING COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN THE ELDERLY WITH PRIOR COGNITIVE DECLINE
A. da Silva1,*, G. M. de Oliveira2, M. G. Ruelas3, M. S. M. Gadelha4, A. C. F. D. F. Santos5, F. V. Zamora6
1Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom, 2Sports Medicine and Orthopedic, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States, 3Department of Nutrition, Imperial College, London, 4Public Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 5Medical Sciences, City University of São Paulo , São Paulo, 6Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rationale: Blueberries are anthocyanin-rich fruits with established anti-inflammatory and cardiometabolic benefits. However, their effects on cognitive function in elderly individuals with cognitive decline remain unclear. We evaluated the impact of chronic blueberry consumption on cognitive performance.
Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing chronic blueberry intake and cognition. Standard mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a random-effects model.
Results: Nine RCTs (n=513) were included. In elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or subjective cognitive decline, blueberry intake improved episodic memory (SMD=0.34; 95% CI: 0.11–0.57; p<0.05), with no subgroup differences. Language memory improved in MCI patients (SMD=0.30; 95% CI: 0.01–0.60; p<0.05). No significant effects were observed for processing speed, recognition memory, visuospatial learning, or working memory.
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Conclusion: Chronic blueberry intake may improve episodic memory in elderly individuals with cognitive decline and language in MCI. Larger multicenter trials are needed to confirm long-term effects.
References: Bell, L., Lamport, D. J., Butler, L. T., & Williams, C. M. (2015). A Review of the Cognitive Effects Observed in Humans Following Acute Supplementation with Flavonoids, and Their Associated Mechanisms of Action. Nutrients, 7(12), 10290-10306. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu7125538
Boespflug, E. L., Eliassen, J. C., Dudley, J. A., Shidler, M. D., Kalt, W., Summer, S. S., Stein, A. L., Stover, A. N., & Krikorian, R. (2018). Enhanced neural activation with blueberry supplementation in mild cognitive impairment. Nutr Neurosci, 21(4), 297-305. https://doi.org/10.1080/1028415x.2017.1287833
Disclosure of Interest: None declared