Reuters Health (September, 2002) -- New evidence that blueberries may have "brain protecting power" was presented at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society by Dr. James Joseph of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging.

According to Reuters Health, the team of researchers has shown that blueberries reduce "aging-related damage in rat brains and can also prevent mental decline in mice genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer’s-like plaques in their brains."

Conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease, cancer and heart disease have been linked to oxidative cell damage caused by free radicals, a by-product of normal metabolism. Antioxidants can help prevent this damage — and blueberries lead other fruits and vegetables in antioxidant capacity.

According to Joseph, blueberries’ brain-protection power goes beyond their known antioxidant effects. As Joseph explained to Reuters, blueberries seem to "directly influence the way neurons communicate."