Blueberries protect the brain.

Blueberries vs. Mania: Can This Berry Really Stabilize Mood?

Mira Elwood in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research explores how blueberry extract could offer neuroprotective benefits, potentially complementing or even enhancing traditional treatments for mania."

Bipolar disorder, characterized by dramatic shifts in mood and energy, can significantly impact daily life. While medications like lithium are commonly prescribed, they often come with unwanted side effects. This has fueled the search for complementary or alternative approaches, leading researchers to investigate the potential of natural compounds.

Enter the blueberry, a tiny but mighty fruit packed with antioxidants and other beneficial compounds. Known for their brain-boosting properties, blueberries have caught the attention of scientists exploring their potential role in mental health. Recent research has begun to investigate whether blueberry extract can influence the neurochemical imbalances associated with mania.

This article explores a new study that examines the effects of blueberry extract, both alone and in combination with lithium, on an experimental model of mania. We'll break down the key findings, discuss the potential mechanisms at play, and consider what this research could mean for the future of mental health treatment. Does blueberry extract offer a promising new avenue for managing mood? Let's delve into the science.

Blueberry Power: How the Extract Impacts the Manic Brain

The study, published in Metabolic Brain Disease, investigated the impact of blueberry extract on rats exhibiting mania-like behavior induced by ketamine. Researchers focused on several key indicators of brain health, including:

Researchers pretreated rats with either a placebo, blueberry extract (200 mg/kg), lithium (45 mg/kg or 22.5 mg/kg twice daily), or a combination of both blueberry extract and lithium for 14 days. For the last week of pretreatment, ketamine (25 mg/kg) or a placebo was injected in the treatment groups to induce mania-like behavior. The results revealed some intriguing effects:

Hyperactivity: Ketamine increased hyperactivity, but pretreatment with blueberry extract, lithium alone, or a combination of both reduced this effect.
Brain Enzymes: Ketamine increased the activity of certain brain enzymes (AChE and Na+/K+-ATPase) in the hippocampus and striatum, an effect partially prevented by blueberry extract.
Oxidative Stress: Ketamine increased oxidative stress markers in the brain, but blueberry extract and lithium alone helped to prevent this.

The researchers concluded that blueberry extract demonstrates a neuroprotective effect in this experimental model of mania, primarily through its antioxidant and enzyme-regulating actions. However, it's important to note that the combined treatment of lithium and blueberry extract didn't show a synergistic effect, and in some cases, the effects were even reduced.

The Future of Blueberries in Mental Health Treatment

This study provides preliminary evidence that blueberry extract may offer some neuroprotective benefits relevant to managing mania. The antioxidant and enzyme-regulating properties of blueberries could potentially help stabilize brain chemistry and reduce hyperactivity.

However, several important caveats must be considered. This research was conducted on an animal model, and further studies are needed to confirm these effects in humans. Additionally, the lack of a synergistic effect with lithium and the potential for reduced efficacy with combined treatment highlight the complexity of using natural compounds alongside traditional medications.

Despite these limitations, the findings suggest that blueberries and other polyphenol-rich foods could play a supportive role in mental health. Future research should focus on identifying the specific bioactive compounds responsible for these effects, determining optimal dosages, and evaluating potential interactions with existing treatments. As we continue to explore natural approaches to mental wellness, blueberries may prove to be a valuable addition to a holistic treatment plan.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1007/s11011-018-0353-9, Alternate LINK

Title: Combined Actions Of Blueberry Extract And Lithium On Neurochemical Changes Observed In An Experimental Model Of Mania: Exploiting Possible Synergistic Effects

Subject: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Journal: Metabolic Brain Disease

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Luiza Spohr, Mayara Sandrielly Pereira Soares, Pathise Souto Oliveira, Bruna Da Silveira De Mattos, Natália Pontes Bona, Nathalia Stark Pedra, Fernanda Cardoso Teixeira, Carlus Augustu Tavares Do Couto, Vitor Clasen Chaves, Flávio Henrique Reginatto, Meibel Teixeira Lisboa, Anderson Schwingel Ribeiro, Claiton Leoneti Lencina, Francieli Moro Stefanello, Roselia Maria Spanevello

Published: 2018-12-07

Everything You Need To Know

How might blueberry extract affect someone experiencing mania?

Research suggests that blueberry extract contains neuroprotective properties. These properties may help regulate brain chemistry imbalances associated with mania by acting as an antioxidant and regulating certain brain enzymes. The study showed reduced hyperactivity in rats induced with mania-like behavior with blueberry extract.

What dosages of blueberry extract have been studied for mania and how were those studies structured?

The study published in *Metabolic Brain Disease* used blueberry extract at a dosage of 200 mg/kg. Lithium was administered at 45 mg/kg or 22.5 mg/kg twice daily. The blueberry extract and lithium were pre-treated for 14 days. For the last week of pretreatment, ketamine (25 mg/kg) or a placebo was injected in the treatment groups to induce mania-like behavior. These dosages were tested on rats exhibiting mania-like behavior.

What specific effects did blueberry extract have on brain function and behavior in the experimental study?

The study showed that blueberry extract helped reduce hyperactivity and oxidative stress, and regulated certain brain enzymes (AChE and Na+/K+-ATPase) affected by ketamine-induced mania-like behavior in rats. Lithium also showed similar effects. However, the combination of blueberry extract and lithium did not show a synergistic effect; in some cases, the effects were even reduced.

How does blueberry extract influence key brain enzymes relevant to mania?

The study found that blueberry extract helped modulate the activity of AChE and Na+/K+-ATPase, two key brain enzymes that were increased in activity due to ketamine. While the study does not definitively explain the mechanism, Blueberry extract appears to exert a neuroprotective effect by helping to keep these enzyme levels in check, and its antioxidant activity.

What are the overall implications of the blueberry extract research for the future of mental health treatment?

The researchers concluded that blueberry extract demonstrates a neuroprotective effect in an experimental model of mania, primarily through its antioxidant and enzyme-regulating actions. It's important to remember this study was conducted on rats. Further research is needed to determine whether these findings translate to humans and whether blueberry extract could be integrated into mental health treatment plans. It is also worth noting that combining lithium and blueberry extract did not show positive effects.