Wild blueberry and gingko biloba (American ginseng)

Whether for its ability to prevent certain cancers, preserve vision, improve skin quality or lower the % of diabetes, wild blueberries are currently one, or otherwise, the most studied plant in the world. The medicinal abilities of wild blueberries can also greatly influence brain function. Indeed, clinical studies (on humans) clearly demonstrate the benefits of eating wild blueberries on brain diseases in general but also that it allows, just like gingko biloba and American ginseng, to improve some of them.

A clinical study entitled:Blueberry Supplementation Improves Memory in Older Adults, ROBERT KRIKORIAN,^*† MARCELLE D SHIDLER,^† TIFFANY A NASH, WILHELMINA KALT, MELINDA R VINQVIST-TYMCHUK, BARBARA SHUKITT-HALE and JAMES A JOSEPH reported that consuming wild blueberry juice for 12 weeks improved memory function in older adults with early memory decline. To our knowledge, this was the first human trial evaluating the potential benefit of wild blueberry supplementation on neurocognitive function in older adults with an increased risk of dementia.

Trends have also been observed suggesting decreased depressive symptoms and although the average score of depression symptoms at pre-intervention assessment is below clinically significant levels, the reduction is notable and provides additional corroboration of the neurocognitive benefits associated with blueberry intervention. Recent evidence supports the notion that anthocyanins can improve glucose elimination through a number of mechanisms and may also help improve neurocognitive function.

These preliminary memory findings are encouraging and suggest that consistent supplementation with blueberries may offer an approach to prevent or mitigate neurodegeneration. The interpretation of these results should be tempered due to the relatively small sample size and the lack of specific control of blueberries (blueberries).

Another study this time from the University of Reading in England showed that the high concentrations of flavonoids in wild blueberries increased cognitive abilities in children and that drinking wild blueberry juice could significantly improve cognitive ability in children.

« We’ve known for some time that flavonoids promote good brain function in adults. However, this is the first fully controlled double-blind research study to examine the effects of flavonoids on cognitive behavior in children. » Williams, member of the research team. Their cognitive skills were measured one hour and 15 minutes after drinking the juice, again after three hours, and then a third time after six hours. The tests measured basic cognitive functions such as verbal memory, word recognition and the ability to concentrate.

Williams also said that children who consumed a high dose of wild blueberry juice performed better on cognitive tests than those who drank placebos or lower doses.

Composite scores for all tasks highlighted a significant difference in the children’s cognition outcomes, with the high-strength wild blueberry drink leading to the best performance and placebo the least effective performance. »

The results are consistent with a 2010 study (Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults) that measured the effects of wild blueberry juice on memory function in seniors. In this study, the researchers found that adults with age-related memory changes showed significant improvements after drinking van Dyk(Nova Scotia) pure wild blueberry juice every day for 12 weeks.

Our R&D team believes that adding wild blueberries to the American ginseng/gingko biloba blend could be synergistic and would act as an adjuvant to the original blend.