Grape Juice for Brain Health

Concord grape juice is rich in polyphenols, an important antioxidant compound that helps to combat reactive oxygen species suggested to contribute to the aging process. Robert Krikorian, from the University of Cincinnati Health Center (Ohio, USA), and colleagues enrolled 21 men and women, average age 76 years, with mild cognitive impairment, in a 16 week long study. Subjects received either a weight-dependent quantity of Concord grape juice, equivalent to 6.3 to 7.8 mL per kilogram of body weight, or a placebo beverage. Results showed that consumption of grape juice was associated with fewer errors in memory tasks, compared with placebo. Magnetic resonance image of the brains of the study participants showed significantly greater activation in anterior and posterior regions on the right side of the brain of the subjects receiving the grape juice, suggesting improvements in memory performance and mental function. The study authors conclude that: “These findings provide further evidence that Concord grape juice can enhance neurocognitive function in older adults with mild memory decline.”