Berry intake could be key to better memory function, study suggests

Tokyo (dpa) – Found in berries and teas, flavonols could be key to boosting memory and sleep – if only there was a way to get the body to absorb more of them. A team of scientists at the Shibaura Institute of Technology in Tokyo has found that a single dose "stimulated brain regions involved in memory and sleep-wake regulation, and increased sympathetic nervous activity, a stress response." But although flavenols are found in a range of foods, including coffee, wine and many vegetables, they have "poor bioavailability," according to the researchers. This means that only "a fraction" of what gets ingested makes it as far as the bloodstream, limiting their potential impact. The "astringent" tastes that many flavenol-rich food items and drinks come with could be key, however, as it appears th