Flies fed blueberry extract lived up to 15% longer than those who followed a standard diet.

The results suggest that this artificial sweetener could be a novel therapy for the treatment of Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

As consumption of edible Solanaceae -- a flowering plant family with some species producing foods that are edible sources of nicotine -- increased, the risk of Parkinson’s decreased.

A decrease in internal antioxidants and detoxifying molecules gives rise to higher production of free radicals, lower cellular energy production and thus contributes to neuro-degeneration of dopamine neurons and development of Parkinson’s.