CHICAGO: Researchers have discovered that blackcurrants in New Zealand are good for helping to stay mentally young and agile.
A study, conducted by scientists at Plant and Food Research in New Zealand in collaboration with Northumbria University in the UK, shows that compounds in the blackcurrants increase mental performance indicators such as accuracy, attention and mood.
The research also shows that juice from a specific blackcurrant called Blackadder reduces the activity of a family of enzymes called monoamine oxidases, which regulate serotonin and dopamine in the brain.
These chemicals are known to affect mood and thinking and are the focus for treatments of symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease and mood disorders, including stress and anxiety.