Berry grape news to reverse memory problems

William Atkins
Tuesday, 30 December 2008 21:35

Science - Health

The researchers studied Fischer 344 laboratory rats that were ninteen months old.

In part one of the research, the scientists tested seven stilbene compounds in cell cultures.

They discovered that pterostilbene was the most effective compound when targeting the reduction of oxidative stress.

The researchers stated within their abstract, “Experiment I utilized resveratrol and six resveratrol analogues and examined their efficacies in preventing dopamine-induced decrements in calcium clearance following oxotremorine-induced depolarization in COS-7 cells transfected with M1 muscarinic receptors (MAChR) that we have shown previously to be sensitive to oxidative stressors.”

For the second part of the research, the scientists divided older rats into three groups: a control group, a group on a low concentration of pterostilene, and a group on a high concentration of pterostilbene.

They stated, “Experiment II utilized the most efficacious analogue (pterostilbene) from experiment I and fed aged rats a diet with a low (0.004%) or a high (0.016%) concentration of pterostilbene.”

The authors concluded, as stated in their abstract, “Results indicated that pterostilbene was effective in reversing cognitive behavioral deficits, as well as dopamine release, and working memory was correlated with pterostilbene levels in the hippocampus.”

Thus, the authors agreed that, based on their studies of older rats, pterostilbene could be effective in reversing the aging of the human brain and, especially, in improving the memory within the hippocampus area of the human brain.