A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study to Compare the Safety and Efficacy of Low Dose Enhanced Wild Blueberry Powder and Wild Blueberry Extract (ThinkBlue™) in Maintenance of Episodic and Working Memory in Older Adults

Adrian R Whyte, Nancy Cheng, Emilie Fromentin, Claire M Williams, Adrian R Whyte, Nancy Cheng, Emilie Fromentin, Claire M Williams

Abstract

Previous research has shown beneficial effects of polyphenol-rich diets in ameliorating cognitive decline in aging adults. Here, using a randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled chronic intervention, we investigated the effect of two proprietary blueberry formulations on cognitive performance in older adults; a whole wild blueberry powder at 500 mg (WBP500) and 1000 mg (WBP1000) and a purified extract at 100 mg (WBE111). One hundred and twenty-two older adults (65⁻80 years) were randomly allocated to a 6-month, daily regimen of either placebo or one of the three interventions. Participants were tested at baseline, 3, and 6 months on a battery of cognitive tasks targeting episodic memory, working memory and executive function, alongside mood and cardiovascular health parameters. Linear mixed model analysis found intervention to be a significant predictor of delayed word recognition on the Reys Auditory Verbal Learning Task (RAVLT), with simple contrast analysis revealing significantly better performance following WBE111 at 3 months. Similarly, performance on the Corsi Block task was predicted by treatment, with simple contrast analysis revealing a trend for better performance at 3 months following WBE111. Treatment also significantly predicted systolic blood pressure (SBP) with simple contrast analysis revealing lower SBP following intervention with WBE111 in comparison to placebo. These results indicate 3 months intervention with WBE111 can facilitate better episodic memory performance in an elderly population and reduce cardiovascular risk factors over 6 months.

Keywords: anthocyanin; blood pressure; cognition; episodic memory; flavonoid; older adults; wild blueberry.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funding sponsors contributed to the design of the study and writing of the manuscript, but had no role in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; and in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Treatment allocation and participant numbers throughout study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Word recognition performance (±SE) by intervention at 3 and 6 months. Performance for WBE100 was significantly better than placebo (* p < 0.05) following 3 months of intervention, but not at 6 months.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Total number of correct sequences recalled (±SE) by intervention at 3 and 6 months. There was a trend for better WBE100 performance in comparison to placebo (# p < 0.07) following 3 months of intervention, but not at 6 months.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Systolic blood pressure (±SE) by intervention showing a main effect of WBE111 intervention in comparison to placebo over 3 and 6 months.

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