吃樱桃还能改善老年痴呆？科学家从中发现了一个神秘物质

　　樱桃汁走进临床试验，实锤花青素可改善老年痴呆
　　【文献解读】
　　饮食中的黄酮类化合物，包括花青素，可能对认知有积极的影响，并可能有益于痴呆症的预防和治疗。2015年10月澳大利亚伍伦贡大学研究团队在期刊《European Journal of Nutrition》发表临床试验结果，研究表明经常饮用富含花青素的樱桃汁，可以改善患有痴呆症的老年人的认知能力。
　　本项试验共招募了49名患有轻度痴呆的老年人(70+岁)作为受试者，随机分为干预组和安慰剂组进行12周的对照试验。干预组每日服用富含花青素的樱桃汁200ml，对照组服用等量花青素含量可忽略不计的对照果汁。分别于6周和12周测定血压及相关认知功能测试。结果干预组在语言流畅性、短时记忆和长时记忆方面均有改善，收缩压和舒张压也有明显降低的趋势。
　　注：干预组和对照组认知测试流畅度变化
　　这项试验的结果，表明经常饮用富含花青素的樱桃汁超过12周，可以改善患有痴呆症的老年人的认知能力，并为更全面的人体试验提供基础，以研究樱桃黄酮类化合物对神经认知健康的潜在影响。
　　【文献节选】
　　Plant-based foods form an integral component of the human diet, and their consumption is consistently linked to the maintenance of health and the prevention of a vast array of diseases [1]. A growing body of evidence has shown that phytochemicals, non-nutritive bioactive compounds, contribute to the antioxidant activity of inpidual fruits and vegetables and are consequently credited with the observed health benefits [2]. Flavonoids are a class of polyphenols that have been studied intensively and are categorised into six major classes: anthocyanins, flavanols, flavanones, flavones, flavonols and isoflavones [3]. Flavonoids are found in particularly high concentrations in fruits and vegetables, wine, tea and cocoa [4]. The consumption of flavonoids has been associated with a reduction in risk for cardiovascular diseases and some cancers [5, 6], and more recently, there has been attention directed to their potential to protect against neurodegenerative diseases and improve cognitive performance in older adults [7].