title: Enhanced neural activation with blueberry supplementation in mild cognitive impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preclinical studies have shown that blueberry supplementation can improve cognitive performance and neural function in aged animals and have identified associations between anthocyanins and such benefits. Preliminary human trials also suggest cognitive improvement in older adults, although direct evidence of enhancement of brain function has not been demonstrated. In this study, we investigated the effect of blueberry supplementation on regional brain activation in older adults at risk for dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial we performed pre- and post-intervention functional magnetic resonance imaging during a working memory (WM) task to assess the effect of blueberry supplementation on blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, a risk condition for dementia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following daily supplementation for 16 weeks, blueberry-treated participants exhibited increased BOLD activation in the left pre-central gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, and left inferior parietal lobe during WM load conditions (corrected P < 0.01). There was no clear indication of WM enhancement associated with blueberry supplementation. Diet records indicated no between-group difference in anthocyanin consumption external to the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data demonstrate, for the first time, enhanced neural response during WM challenge in blueberry-treated older adults with cognitive decline and are consistent with prior trials showing neurocognitive benefit with blueberry supplementation in this at-risk population.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience , University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center , Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA.
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2302-9522
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Boespflug
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience , University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center , Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Eliassen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience , University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center , Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5189-9568
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dudley
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience , University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center , Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA.
authors.forename: Marcelle D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Shidler
authors.affiliation: b Atlantic Food and Horticultural Research Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada , Kentville, Nova Scotia B4N 1J5, Canada.
authors.forename: Wilhelmina
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3817-2337
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kalt
authors.affiliation: c Clinical Translational Research Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
authors.forename: Suzanne S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Summer
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience , University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center , Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9799-5707
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience , University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center , Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Stover
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience , University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center , Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krikorian
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000494:pharmacology; D029798:Blueberry Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000178:diet therapy*; D003704:Dementia; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins
keywords: Aging; Blueberries; Brain activation; Dementia; MCI; fMRI