Abstract
Older adults experience a variety of functional changes that decrease their quality of life with age‐related cognitive decline and reduced mobility being of particular concern. Pre‐clinical research indicates that berry fruit offer a promising dietary approach to preserving nervous system function, in part due to the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties of their polyphenolic compounds. Based on the improvements in mobility and cognition observed among strawberry‐supplemented aged rats, we hypothesized that dietary supplementation with strawberry would also benefit older adults. The present study investigated the effects of strawberry supplementation (24g/day, ≈2 cups/day fresh strawberry) or placebo powder on healthy older men and women (60–75 years old). Motor and cognitive ability were assessed at days 0, 45, and 90 of supplementation. Improvements in hippocampally‐mediated word recognition and spatial memory were observed among participants that consumed strawberry, relative to placebo; however, no effects on mobility were observed. These findings suggest that the inclusion of strawberry in the diet may aid in preserving aspects of cognitive function during aging.Support or Funding InformationUSDA Intramural, California Strawberry Commission
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