Aronia extract may boost attention and psychomotor speed: Study

One week of supplementation with an extract from Aronia melanocarpa​ also led to significant improvements in levels of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), an important neurotrophic factor participating in memory and learning

“One week of AME [Aronia melanocarpa​ extract] supplementation improved cognitive performance, which was reflected by a shorter movement time on the five-choice reaction time test,” wrote researchers from Maastricht University.

“Serum BDNF concentrations were also improved, but changes did not correlate with the improvements observed in the domain of attention and psychomotor speed.”

Aronia​

Aronia is a member of the Rosaceae family native to eastern North America. It has also been naturalized in Europe.

The most studied form of chokeberry is Aronia melanocarpa​ (black chokeberries), but other forms of the berry exist, including Aronia arbutifolia​ (red chokeberries) and Aronia prunifolia​ (purple chokeberries).

Although originating in North America, commercial growing of aronia berries started in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. The berry was reportedly used for enhancing the diets of Russian cosmonauts.

The majority of the science supporting the potential health benefits of chokeberry relate to heart health (enhancing blood flow​, normalizing blood clots​, benefiting blood pressure​), but other reported benefits include anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidant activity, and immunomodulatory effects. A study from the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism​ also indicated potential for sports nutrition​ (2005, Vol. 15, pp. 48-58).

Study Details​

The Maastricht-based scientists recruited 35 healthy young adults (average age 25) to participate in their randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either the Aronia extract or placebo for seven days. This was followed by a two-week washout period before crossing over to the other group. The Aronia extract provided a daily anthocyanin dose of 180 milligrams.

Cognitive performance, assessed using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), indicated that the Aronia extract was associated with improvements in measures of attention and psychomotor speed. Specifically, a 4.8% reduction in movement time, defined as “the time from release of the response button to selection of the target”, was observed following Aronia supplementation. This was statistically significant compared to placebo, said the researchers.

Additionally, a 5.7% increase in serum BDNF concentrations were recorded following Aronia supplementation, compared to placebo.

On the other hand, no differences between the interventions were recorded for measures of memory and executive function, or for arterial stiffness.

“Cognitive abilities, such as memory, are thought to peak in young adulthood while measures for attention peak later in life,” wrote the researchers. “This suggests that there is still room for improvements in attention and psychomotor speed in younger adults, while older adults may benefit more from improvements in memory.

“Alternatively, 1 week of supplementation may not have been long enough to induce changes in memory or executive function, which would suggest that the observed improvement in the domain of attention and psychomotor speed is regulated through different mechanisms as compared to potential changes observed in memory or executive function domains.

“Current evidence proposes that flavonoids can indeed influence various processes that could translate into an improved cognitive performance.”

Source: European Journal of Nutrition​
63​, 1545–1553, doi: 10.1007/s00394-024-03381-3​
“Short-term Aronia melanocarpa​ extract supplementation improves cognitive performance: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study in healthy young adults”
Authors: S. Ahles, et al.