http://www.rep-am.com/statenews/f7w.htm
Wednesday, January 23, 2002
DANBURY — Researchers are looking
for people in the greater Danbury area to eat blueberries for science.
The study follows the research done
by scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research
Center at Tufts University in Boston.
In 1999, researchers found aging
rats could recover their balance, coordination and short-term memory if
fed a diet rich in blueberry extract.
"I don't know of an area of research
on food that has more hope," Rolf Martin of New Milford, who is coordinating
the project, said.
The Blueberry Study met last week
with seniors at the New Fairfield Senior Center and found about 50 people
willing to join the project.
"We're aiming at 100 people and we
got 50. I'm thinking we might go to another senior center to recruit more,"
Martin said.
The people who sign up for the study
must be at least 60 years old; people with debilitating diseases such as
multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer's disease can participate.
They will get a two-month supply
of berries supplied by the Wild Blueberry Association and the Michigan
Blueberry Growers association.
The berries will be flash-frozen
and delivered to Stew Leonard's supermarket in Danbury. Those who participate
in the study must live within two hours' driving time of Danbury so the
blueberries do not thaw out before they can bring them home.
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