Apple/Apple Juice For Better Memory
August 3, 2006 by ruth
Filed under Food & Nutrition
Because it’s my son’s staple drink, I get to drink a lot of apple juice, too. In various concentrations and turbidity. After reading this, you can be sure I’ll be gulping more of it. Heaven knows my brain needs all the help it can get!
The long and short of it is that researchers have discovered that apples and apple products may increase the production in the brain of the essential neurotransmitter acetylcholine, resulting in improved memory. And because acetylcholine is important in brain function, the researchers are suggesting that drinking apple juice may help prevent the decline in cognitive performance that accompanies dietary and genetic deficiencies and aging. Take that one step further, and they are implying these antioxidant-rich fruits may help in treating Alzheimer’s Disease, a neurodegenerative disorder.
“We anticipate that the day may come when foods like apples, apple juice and other apple products are recommended along with the most popular Alzheimer’s medications,” says Thomas Shea, Ph.D., director of the UML Center for Cellular Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration Research.
We’ll see. First, human clinical trials will have to be done (the trials described above were done on mice). On the other hand, why wait? Alzheimer-prophylactic or not, apples are healthy and vitamin-rich, and possess other powers.
Thanks, Ruth, for referring to my blog, http://www.alzheimersnotes.com in your apple juice and memory post. I’ve let my readers know you have more information over here…in my Aug. 4th post.