In the study, 25 healthy 40 to 50-year-old working women with pre-teen children were enrolled in a randomised, double-blind, crossover trial, in which they drank Concord grape juice and a grape-flavoured, sugar-sweetened placebo for 12 weeks each.
Congitive tests
Over the duration of the study, the women participated in a series of tests designed to assess their cognitive performance, including a 25-minute driving simulator challenge where they were asked to match the speed and direction of a lead vehicle.
Statistically, significant improvements in a memory measure (immediate spatial memory) and driving performance were both seen when the mothers drank 355ml of Concord grape juice daily versus the placebo.
This is the first time it has been found that the cognitive benefits associated with drinking Concord grape juice extended beyond older adults.
Body of evidence
The paper, presented at the recent biennial International Conference on Polyphenols & Health, adds to the body of evidence that Concord grape juice aids healthy lifestyles.
In another paper presented at the conference, results of a pre-clinical study suggested that the plant nutrients present in Concord and Niagara grape juices might aid in slowing down the body's absorption of naturally-occurring sugars in juice. This suggested that, compared with consuming a sugar-sweetened beverage, drinking grape juice could result in a modestly lower glycaemic response.