Wild Blueberries Linked to Less Aging

A U.S. National Institute on Aging study suggests that natural compounds available in wild blueberries increased lifespan and slowed aging-related declines.

Certain aspects of aging are similar between nematodes and mammals, so the study findings in nematodes is significant because it lends support to previous experiments on cultured cells and short-term rodent studies showing beneficial effects in aging-related declines and stress resistance, according to study leader Mark Wilson.

Antioxidants are important because of their ability to protect against oxidative cell damage, although the mechanisms responsible for that protection are still under investigation.

There is evidence that wild blueberry compounds may impact cell signaling and gene expression working beyond their direct antioxidant effect by reducing stress signals, says Wilson.

Cellular stress and inflammation are related to many diseases of aging including heart disease, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

The findings are published in Aging Cell.