Here's an interesting article. I know some people with parents with possible alzheimers, so I notice when articles about it appear in the netstream.

From kurzweil - oh, you don't know about kurzweil? he's some kind of singularity and intelligence and human enhancement geek.

Eating berries may activate the brain’s natural housekeeper for healthy aging

http://www.kurzweilai.net/eating-berries-may-activate-the-brains-natural...

Scientists on Monday reported the first evidence that eating blueberries, strawberries, acai berries, and possibly walnuts may help the aging brain stay healthy in a crucial but previously unrecognized way. Their study concluded that berries activate the brain’s natural “housekeeper” mechanism, which cleans up and recycles toxic proteins linked to age-related memory loss and other mental decline.

It involves a reduction in the brain’s natural house-cleaning process. Cells called microglia are the housekeepers. In a process called autophagy, they remove and recycle biochemical debris that otherwise would interfere with brain function.

“But in aging, microglia fail to do their work, and debris builds up,” researcher Shibu Poulose explained. “In addition, the microglia become over-activated and actually begin to damage healthy cells in the brain. Our research suggests that the polyphenolics in berries have a rescuing effect. They seem to restore the normal housekeeping function. These findings are the first to show these effects of berries.”

Poulose said the study provides further evidence to eat foods rich in polyphenolics. Although berries and walnuts are rich sources, many other fruits and vegetables contain these chemicals — especially those with deep red, orange, or blue colors. Those colors come from pigments termed anthocyanins that are good antioxidants. He emphasized the importance of consuming the whole fruit, which contains the full range of hundreds of healthful chemicals. Frozen berries, which are available year round, also are excellent sources of polyphenolics, he added.