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Cruising through some of the Society for Neuroscience 2007 Abstracts (99.9% of which I can’t begin to understand) I came across this and thought it was a rather intriguing bit of info. Blueberry extract (in rats of course) can counter act some of the age related loss of dendrites and help with “brain circuitry”.

Sorry I can’t link to the actual abstract but here’s the title:

Dietary enrichment with 2% blueberry extract to aged rats results in enhanced dendritic branching and spine neuroplasticity in cortical neurons and more complex brain circuitry

*R. F. MERVIS1,2, P. HWANG3, S. ANTOINE3, J. KOTICK3, K. KALMBACH1, B. SHUKITT-HALE4, J. JOSEPH4;

This suggests that even in old subjects, a modest (2%) BB dietary supplementation appears to exert a significant neuroplastic impact on neuronal morphology: it can mitigate normal age-related dendritic atrophy and spine loss. Indeed, the increase in both branching and spines suggests that the BB-extract can exert anti-aging neuroprotection in enhancing the integrity and complexity of brain circuitry in the old rats.

Now, just to make it a tad bit more interesting, per this recent research there may be a connection between an increased number of dendritic cells and susceptibility to viruses (more dc’s increase resistance to viruses).

Role of dendritic cells in differential susceptibility to viral demyelinating disease

An increased DC number and/or acquired resistance of DCs to viral infection render susceptible mice resistant to viral persistence and disease progression.

I just found it all rather interesting.

Sharon

Every morning I eat a handful of blueberries in my yogurt. I started doing this after reading some research last year that concluded blueberries had a ton of positive effects on the body.

The scientists also ate blueberries every day because they were so impressed with the findings.

gwa

I used to eat blueberries every day but got out of the habit.

Husband's favorite snack is California walnuts and wild Alaskan blueberries...
we call it his "anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidant trail mix"
some more info:

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRel ... RN20080206

yum!
AC