Cherry Juice Improves Memory and Cognition in Dementia Patients

Photo Valdemar Fishmen CC BY 2.0

An Australian study has found that simple cherry juice improves memory and cognition in adults with dementia. The study was conducted with adults 70 and older who suffered from mild to moderate dementia. Over a 12 week period it was found that those who drank a daily dose of cherry juice experienced positive improvements in verbal fluency, short-term memory and long-term memory in addition to drops blood pressure.

The study controlled for anthocyanin, a flavonoid found in cherry juice which has been demonstrated to protect against a variety of human diseases. The effects of anthocyanin have been difficult to study because it is almost always working in concert with other flavonoids present in a variety of plants. That said, the authors of the study concluded that daily consumption of an anthocyanin-rich beverage such as cherry juice  may help older adults with mild to moderate dementia improve their cognitive outcomes. At the very least, it can’t hurt, can it?