A new study is set to reveal that British blackcurrants may hold the key in helping to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
The Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) is working on an EU-funded project that is trying to identify bio-active compounds in blackcurrants that are thought to be capable of reducing the advancement of Alzheimer’s.
The three-year initiative is looking at the natural compounds present in whole blackcurrant fruit as well as blackcurrant extracts obtained throughout the processing chain. It is these natural compounds which are thought to possess properties that protect the brain and aid in the treatment of dementia.
The study follows recent media reports highlighting a new pill that can “help you live to 100” and make you “80 per cent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s”.
The project is examining cost-effective methods of extracting the compounds and how they can be developed into new functional food ingredients. The SCRI’s role will be to use their expertise in blackcurrant research to identify the active components and to aid in optimising their extraction from the fruit. The consortium will also help formulate the best-performing blackcurrant components into products suitable for human use.
Dr Derek Stewart of the SCRI said: “This initiative is exciting in that we are truly maximising the potential of blackcurrants by looking at ways of utilising all of the blackcurrant fruit, not only the juice. Dementia is a massively under-funded area, so any exploration relating to Alzheimer’s is a step in the right direction.”
Dr Susanne Sorensen, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said: “We know that eating a Mediterranean diet rich in fruit, vegetables and oily fish is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of dementia. Early research also suggests that certain compounds in blackcurrants may be particularly helpful in reducing your risk. However, it is too early to say how beneficial these compounds are in the fight against dementia and we look forward to the results from further research. One million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years, yet research is desperately under-funded. We must act now.”
