Recent studies at the University of East Anglia (UK) have shown that cranberries have neuroprotective potential and that including them in ones diet can considerably improve cognition and lower harmful cholesterol.

The study team evaluated how cholesterol and brain function was affected after 12 weeks of cranberry consumption in 60 cognitively healthy people. Frozen-dried cranberry powder, equivalent to one cup or 100 grams of fresh cranberries, was ingested daily by half of the participants, while the other half ate placebo.

The outcomes demonstrated that consumption of cranberries greatly enhanced participants visual episodic memory, cognitive functioning, and blood flow to the brain (brain perfusion). Participants who ate the cranberry powder showed significant enhancement in episodic memory performance as well as improved blood flow to critical regions of the brain that promote cognition, notably memory consolidation and retrieval, by consuming the supplement. The LDL or "bad" cholesterol levels, which are known to contribute to atherosclerosis, significantly decreased in the cranberry group as well.

Thus the study strengthens the fact that cranberries might enhance vascular health and may help to improve brain perfusion and cognition in part. (HindustanTimes, Jun 26, 2022)