Blueberries: A Potential Weapon Used To Combat Parkinson’s Disease

Are blueberries the answer in the battle against Parkinson’s disease? Researchers from Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada seem to think so. Their research of blueberries has indicated that the sweet and nutrient-rich fruit might lessen the effects of heart disease and diabetes. Recently, studies have shown that blueberries might help curb the effects of Parkinson’s disease and other brain related ailments.

Nearly 1/2 million Americans have the disease, and even though Parkinson’s is idiopathic (having no specific known cause), researchers have pinpointed the alpha-synuclein gene as a likely culprit. It is a protein that affects chemical transmissions in routine brain activity, and it monitors how much dopamine is produced. Victims of Parkinson’s don’t have enough dopamine, and this severely affects motor skills.

It has been determined that families that pass down the disease through generations either have an abundance of the alpha-synuclein gene or an abnormal structure of it.

In an effort to learn more, the gene was implanted into fruit flies. It gave the flies deterioration of the retina in addition to several other defects and made them die sooner.

However, in a controlled environment, blueberry extract was given to the flies and researchers saw remarkable improvements. The flies lived longer and the extract seemed to have improved affects on the retina. By comparison, the life extension would translate to an additional eight years for human beings.

Since blueberries are a natural food and don’t need to to be tested for human use, it was welcoming for researchers to have scientific proof that blueberries provide physiological benefits. More tests are needed, but the results look promising.

Read more: