Some “Berry” Good News About Brain (tissue) Transplants

Posted on 15. Mar, 2008 by Kerry Friesen, M.D. in Inflammation Overload

brain-transplant.jpgThe central nervous system and the brain in particular are considered “immunologically privileged” sites. Brain function is so important from a survival standpoint that it is essentially “immune” to its own immune system. No immune response to a foreign antigen in the brain, means no inflammatory response and no tissue rejection.

While receiving a “brain tissue” transplant may not turn your crank, thanks to the phenomenon of immune privilege it may soon be your best bet at treating accelerated brain aging and other neurodegenerative diseases. Until recently, survival rates for transplanted neural tissue have been dismal. Rates of less than 10% are considered the norm. Listen up aging baby-boomers, rates are even lower if the host happens to be “middle-aged” and above.

Now for the “berry” good news! Previous studies confirmed that the polpyphenols found for example in the lowbush blueberry (vaccinium augustifolium), dramatically increase survival rates of developing neurons in vitro.

Now a recent in vivo (read rat study) study confirms it.

The lucky rats received a fetal hippocampal tissue transplant to the anterior chamber of the eye (the eye is another immunologically privileged site), plus a diet enriched with the lowly lowbush blueberry. The unlucky rats got the knife but no berries. Final hippocampal graft size increased dramatically in the polyphenol-rich blueberry diet fed rats and not-so-much in the other.

Conclusion? In the future, if your doctor recommends a brain transplant, stock up on blueberries. Remember though, prevention is better than cure.

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6 Responses to “Some “Berry” Good News About Brain (tissue) Transplants”

  1. Ann-Kristin

    16. Mar, 2008

    It was the blueberries!I thought my parents just put me in the woods to get rid of a very active and curious child.I picked the berries,and dealt with the snakes for a good reason?I love the song “Blueberry wine”.Oops, it was “Strawberry wine”.Never mind.I will continue my blueberry baths.

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  2. Toni MacDonell

    17. Mar, 2008

    Hey it looks like your “blogbrain” is in good working order. I knew there was a reason I ate blueberries….do you think eating blueberries can somehow make you “feel blue”….oh no thats another blog.
    Toni

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  3. Kerry Friesen, M.D.

    17. Mar, 2008

    Berries are where it’s at! Native Americans incorporated berries into almost everything. There are in most indigenous diets worldwide. In North America we sprinkle them gingerly on food like they’re some kind of poison…go figure. Eat up and remember,
    “I’m you’re huckleberry”….

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  4. Ann-Kristin

    18. Mar, 2008

    Ok then, I think “I’m you’re cloudberry”…..

    Reply to this comment

  5. Five Brain Myths Busted | The Neuro-Protective Lifestyle

    25. Apr, 2008

    [...] that neurons in vital areas of the brain – the hippocampus for one – are constantly regenerating. Survival of brand-new baby neurons is tenuous, so caution is warranted. Loss of sleep and excess stress all serve to decrease survivability. [...]

    Reply to this comment

  6. Survival

    08. Jun, 2008

    Blueberries are absolutely my favorite food on the entire planet. They go good with practically everything.

    After reading this i’m going to buy a truck load of them.

    Reply to this comment

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