X-Message-Number: 27921
Date: Sun, 7 May 2006 20:01:34 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: antiaging effects of blueberries II

                        *continued*

[Blueberry is not the only food to rejuvenate brain function.]

J Neurosci. 1999 Sep 15;19(18):8114-21.
Reversals of age-related declines in neuronal signal transduction,
cognitive, and motor behavioral deficits with blueberry, spinach, or
strawberry dietary supplementation.
  Ample research indicates that age-related neuronal-behavioral
decrements are the result of oxidative stress that may be ameliorated by
antioxidants. Our previous study had shown that rats given dietary
supplements of fruit and vegetable extracts with high antioxidant
activity for 8 months beginning at 6 months of age retarded age-related
declines in neuronal and cognitive function. The present study showed
that such supplements (strawberry, spinach, or blueberry at 14.8, 9.1, or
18.6 gm of dried aqueous extract per kilogram of diet, respectively) fed
for 8 weeks to 19-month-old Fischer 344 rats were also effective in
reversing age-related deficits in several neuronal and behavioral
parameters including: oxotremorine enhancement of K(+)-evoked release of
dopamine from striatal slices, carbachol-stimulated GTPase activity,
striatal Ca(45) buffering in striatal synaptosomes, motor behavioral
performance on the rod walking and accelerod tasks, and Morris water maze
performance. These findings suggest that, in addition to their known
beneficial effects on cancer and heart disease, phytochemicals present in
antioxidant-rich foods may be beneficial in reversing the course
of neuronal and behavioral aging.

[One unfortunate implication of the above abstracts, is that standard
rodent chow is extremely unsuitable for preserving brain function. Like
most pet foods, rodent chows are largely devoid of the phytochemicals
found in fruits and vegetables. If you care for your pet, please feed it
some extra fruits and vegetables in addition to pet food. This will likely
significantly improve its condition as it ages, and your pet may even
live a little longer.]

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