Research has shown that berries may have the ability to reverse, allay, or slow the progression of behavioral dysfunction associated with aging and neurodegenerative disease. In contrast, high energy, high fat diets (HFD) like the standard American diet may result in behavioral deficits similar to those seen in aged animals. This research examines if berries are able to mitigate some of the effects of a HFD on brain and behavior. In one study, middle-aged mice were fed HFD (60% calories from fat) with and without 4% freeze-dried blueberry for 5 months. Object recognition memory was impaired in the mice that consumed a HFD, but this impairment was reduced in mice fed HFD + blueberry. Accordingly, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurogenesis were enhanced in the hippocampus of mice fed HFD + blueberry. This enhanced neuroplasticity may underlie the reduced memory impairment in the mice fed blueberry. In a subsequent study, young mice were fed a similar HFD diet, but instead were supplemented with 4% freeze-dried raspberry. After 5 months on the diets, mice fed HFD + raspberry performed significantly better than the HFD mice in a test of spatial learning and memory. Notably, the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 was significantly elevated in the brains of mice fed HFD; while mice fed HFD + raspberry did not show a similar elevation. This reduction in inflammation may be responsible, at least in part, for the preserved spatial learning and memory of HFD + raspberry mice. These studies demonstrate that berries may protect against the effects that HFD can have on one’s brain, in both young and middle-aged animals; however, research in human subjects is needed to confirm these benefits.

Ability of berries to mitigate the effects of high fat diet on brain and behavior

256th National Meeting (2018)

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