Effects of strawberry supplementation on mobility and cognition in older adults

Authors: Miller, Marshall; Thangthaeng, Nopporn; SCOTT, TAMMY - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; Shukitt-Hale, Barbara

Submitted to: Society for Neuroscience Abstracts and Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/25/2015
Publication Date: 10/17/2015
Citation: Miller, M.G., Thangthaeng, N., Scott, T.M., Shukitt Hale, B. 2015. Effects of strawberry supplementation on mobility and cognition in older adults. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts and Proceedings. Program #767.05.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: During aging, functional changes in the central and peripheral nervous system can alter mobility and cognition - in some cases leading to early cognitive decline, disability, or injurious falls among older adults. Previously, we have shown that two months of dietary supplementation with berry fruit can reverse several parameters of brain aging, as well as age-related motor and cognitive deficits, when fed to aged rats (19 months old). The present study investigated the effects of 3 months of dietary supplementation with strawberry (12g twice a day, equivalent to approximately 2 cups/day fresh strawberry) or a seemingly identical, isocaloric placebo powder on health older men and women 60-75 years old). Participants completed a battery of balance, gait, and cognitive tasks at day 0, 45 and 90 of supplementation. Dietary supplementation with strawberry attentuated some aspects of declining cognition in older adults, i.e., increased word recognition and improved spatial memory in the virtual Morris water maze. Strawberry had no effect on mobility among this population of healthy older adults. Including berry fruit in the diet of healthy older adults may therefore be one means of combating some age-related functional declines.