A couple of things to remember about that blueberry-juice study

[HuckleB]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/01/a-couple-of-things-to-remember-about-that-blueberryjuice-study.html

"...

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati compared nine elderly adults with "early memory changes" who drank blueberry juice every day with a group of similar adults who didn't. After 12 weeks, those who drank the juice performed better on learning and recall tests.

The researchers wrote: "The findings of this preliminary study suggest that moderate-term blueberry supplementation can confer neurocognitive benefit ..."

And from this comes the headlines "Blueberry juice may boost memory," "Blueberry juice could halt memory loss," "Blueberry juice could stave off dementia."

Earlier research in rodents had suggested blueberries might have a positive effect on memory, but ... nine people? A 12-week study? It's a starting place for further research.

..."


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A nice little example of some of the BIG problems with how studies get reported in the news. Often there is no explanation of the type of study that is being reported, or how it might be different from other studies. The N doesn't affect how a study is reported, it seems. Meanwhile, people run around with the usual rants about how studies all contradict each other, when the reality is that the reporting of a single study doesn't do science justice.

As for me, I'll still eat blueberries every chance I get. Mmmmmmmmm.

[sakabatou]

1. Yeah that's waaay to short

I'm in a study myself and it lasts 6 months.

[HuckleB]

2. That is one issue, but the N may be an even bigger issue in this instance.

[sakabatou]

4. Too small a sample size?

[HuckleB]

5. Yup.

[timeforpeace]

3. Thank you! I rail against "one study miracles" via media perusal of journals but it falls on deaf

ears here. The flaws in the above study are obvious, over and beyond the statistical deficiencies.

[Warpy]

6. Just watch those weasel words

When you see "may," "might," or "could," it should be a red flag that the research is preliminary at best and that eating, drinking, smoking, or shooting whatever substance it is touting as the next miracle cure will do absolutely nothing for you.

If you like blueberries, eat them. There are a lot of good reasons to independent of this poorly done study, reasons that don't carry weasel words.