October 2, 2007. 8:55 p.m.
 Blueberries Do Not Prevent Alzheimer's Disease.

 I was driving in my car today when I heard an ad on NPR  
from the Alzheimer's Foundation that proper diet, including low fat and  
a diet high in anti-oxidants may prevent Alzheimer's Disease.  
"So eat some blueberries," was the cheerful claim, since blueberries  
are high in antioxidants. Is there any basis for the claim that blueberries  
prevent Alzheimer's Disease? First of all, the claims are based on studies  
in animals that antioxidants reduce the inflammation of neurons associated with  
Alzheimer's Disease. However we know from clinical trials in patients with  
heart disease and high risk of cancer (i.e. smokers) that anti-oxidant vitamins  
like Vitamin E and A actually increase the risk of cancer and heart disease  
by as much as 50%!. And we know that claims that since people who eat foods  
with lots of vitamins have less Alzheimer' Disease are confounded since these  
people do other things that promote their health, as seen with the fake-out that  
women who used hormone replacement therapy (HRT) had less heart disease  
(it was later found out through clinical trials that HRT caused  
heart disease and cancer). Clinical trials of vitamins for Alzheimer's  
have not shown any beneficial effect. We should eat diets of low saturated fats  
with lots of vegetables anyway so that should not be an issue.
 
Bottom line? Blueberries won't kill you but don't expect them to  
prevent Alzheimer's disease. Try some blueberry pancakes, they're really great.

Doug Bremner, MD, is a physician
and researcher in Atlanta GA
and author of Before You Take That Pill:
Why the Drug Industry May be
Bad for Your Health

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