Blueberries are often called a “superfood,” and for good reason. They are packed with antioxidants that help your body keep free radicals in check and fight inflammation. Along with other berries, blueberries are among your best dietary sources of bioactive compounds like anthocyanins, flavonols, ellagic acid and resveratrol. Furthermore, blueberries are an excellent source of vitamins K1, C and B6, as well as manganese and fiber.

While the benefits of the whole berry are well-known — particularly as it relates to antiaging, blood sugar, heart disease and vision health — research suggests fermented blueberries may be even more potent and beneficial. In animal studies, fermented blueberry juice has been shown to help with memory loss, cancer, diabetes and obesity. The research suggests cultured blueberry juice is a powerful tonic worthy of your time and attention.

Can Blueberry Vinegar Help With Memory Loss?

According to Alzheimer’s Disease International,¹ an estimated 50 million people worldwide are living with dementia, and more than 9.9 million new cases are diagnosed annually. Assuming the rate of incidence continues to rise, 75 million people are expected to suffer from dementia by 2030. These statistics underscore the need for new and better treatment strategies for cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

A study^2,3 published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry involving lab mice with amnesia suggests blueberry vinegar, which is produced by fermenting fresh blueberries, effectively improves short-term memory. After having amnesia induced through a drug called scopolamine, the mice were given either 120 milligrams per kilogram (mg per kg) of blueberry vinegar or 120 mg per kg of blueberry extract every day for a week. Researchers noted the following results in the mice given blueberry vinegar:

• A reduction in the breakdown of acetylcholine in their brains, which is significant because people with Alzheimer’s disease generally have low levels of acetylcholine, and blocking acetylcholine receptors is known to disrupt learning and memory

• An increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein known for its role in nerve cell growth and maintenance

Fermentation Boosts Bioactive Benefits

While previous research highlighted natural compounds (such as those in blueberries) as beneficial in helping reduce dementia-related memory loss, the current work emphasizes the role fermentation plays in increasing their bioactivity. The study authors said, “Fermented products, such as vinegar, might act to preserve the phenolic compounds that are easily oxidized during food processing and that are impacted by factors such as maturity, storage and processing.”⁴

The mice consuming blueberry vinegar performed better on the two tests used to check their memory. Based on the outcomes, the researchers stated, “These findings also strongly suggest blueberry vinegar could be a useful functional material or food to provide the neuroprotective action against oxidative damage in hippocampal tissue.”⁵

More research is needed to confirm the usefulness of blueberry vinegar with respect to memory problems in people with dementia. Along those lines, judging blueberry vinegar to be less risky than taking toxic dementia drugs, the Los Angeles Times commented:⁶

“Drugs that stop the breakdown of acetylcholine have been invented, but are deemed unsafe for regular use. They don’t last very long, and excess consumption could be toxic to the liver. Blueberry vinegar, however, seemed to have a similar effect without any of the drawbacks of the dangerous drugs.

Researchers agree further testing is necessary before people start rushing to buy the fermented fruits; but since there’s really no drawback … blueberry vinegar could be a great superfood for boosting your brain health as you age.

[S]o if you’re crafting your own [vinaigrette] or looking for a healthy way to dress your salad, blueberry vinegars could be a great ingredient. No food has yet been found that can fully reverse cognitive decline, but it’s comforting to know there are some memory-boosting foods out there.”