Dietary Supplementation with Six Percent Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) Attenuates Neurodegeneration and Motor Deficits in a Parkinson's Disease Model.

BACKGROUND

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), rich in polyphenols and anthocyanins, have shown potential in mitigating these pathological processes.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether dietary supplementation with 6% freeze-dried blueberries attenuates motor impairment, dopaminergic denervation, and microglial activation in a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced rat model of PD.

METHODS

Adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to a control group [rodent food (standard diet)] or a treatment group (6% blueberry-enriched diet). Hemiparkinsonism was induced via stereotaxic injection of 6-OHDA into the right striatum. Behavioral assessments (narrow beam test, apomorphine-induced rotations, and cylinder test) were conducted before and after surgery. Immunohistochemistry was performed to quantify tyrosine hydroxylase and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 expression in the striatum and substantia nigra. Statistical analyze included Two-way analysis of variance and Student's t tests.

RESULTS

Rats receiving 6% blueberries showed significantly fewer contralateral paw slips, reduced apomorphine-induced rotations, and lower motor asymmetry compared with controls (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed decreased dopaminergic denervation and microglial activation in both brain regions. Behavioral improvements correlated with histologic outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

A diet enriched with 6% blueberries significantly mitigated motor deficits, dopaminergic neuron loss, and microglial activation in a 6-OHDA-induced rat model of PD. These findings highlight the potential of blueberry supplementation as a neuroprotective nutritional strategy in neurodegenerative disease models.