ABSTRACT

Advances in healthcare, nutrition, and sanitation during the last century have almost doubled human life spans. As a result, the percent of the population that is over the age of 65 years has and continues to increase. This increase is made even more salient in the United States by the impending retirement of the “baby boom” generation. Due to the anticipated population increase among older adults, age-related pathology is a growing concern. The risk of many diseases, such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, cataract, dementia, hypertension, metabolic disorder, and osteoporosis increases with age; however, dementia is one of the most costly. While other diseases may be more likely fatal (Kochanek, 2011), dementia robs older

Introduction ............................................................................................................ 181 Aging, Oxidation, and In…ammation ................................................................ 182 Antioxidants and Phytochemicals ..................................................................... 184

Berry Fruit .............................................................................................................. 185 In Vitro Evidence ............................................................................................... 185 In Vivo Evidence ................................................................................................ 187

Clinical Trials ......................................................................................................... 193 Nuts ........................................................................................................................ 194 Conclusions ............................................................................................................ 195 References .............................................................................................................. 196

adults of their independence, control, and identity. Even in the absence of neurodegenerative disease, age-related cognitive decline is observed during “normal” aging. The progressive disability associated with cognitive impairment among older adults necessitates increasingly constant care and, on a global scale, the economic impact of dementias is currently estimated at US$604 billion (ADI, 2010). New strategies to protect brain function during aging are required to meet the increased incidence of age-related neuropathology.