Strawberries help reduce cognitive decline

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CHICAGO, July 30 (UPI) -- Strawberries protect the heart, reduce risks of cancer, act as an anti-inflammatory and may be good for the brain, too, U.S. researchers say.

Researchers from the Chicago Healthy Aging Project found that older adults who eat strawberries at least once a month have less cognitive decline.

More specifically, women who consumed more than one serving of strawberries per month had a 16.2 percent slower rate of cognitive decline versus those who consumed less. The findings were presented at the Berry Health Symposium in Monterey, Calif.

Researchers at the Berry Health Symposium described how berries may be contributing to the preservation of brain function.

Most disease processes in the body are believed to begin through inflammation and oxidation which damage cells. Healthy nerve cell membranes promote optimal communication within the brain and nervous system so preventing membrane damage from inflammation and oxidation is essential, the researchers said.