Myth-buster
Anthocyanins didn't boost cognition in a meta-analysis of 849 patients — but other polyphenols like flavonoids and stilbenes did.
This meta-analysis challenges the popular belief that anthocyanins improve brain health, showing no cognitive benefit in clinical populations, though other polyphenol subclasses still show promise.
In a meta-analysis of clinical trials involving 849 people, anthocyanins from berries failed to improve scores on standard cognitive tests like the MMSE. Meanwhile, flavonoids and stilbenes did show cognitive benefits, highlighting that not all polyphenols work the same way. This finding suggests anthocyanins may not be the brain-boosting supplement they're often claimed to be.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on Anthocyanins for Improved Global Cognition — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
- Meta-Analysis
- n = 849
- 2026
- Food & function
- PubMed: 41524705
- DOI: 10.1039/d5fo05135e
- Full study breakdown →
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