New Research Suggests Red Raspberries May Support Blood Sugar Control and Cognitive Function

Study shows improvements in post-meal blood sugar response, memory and learning

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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New research published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that adding 25 grams of freeze-dried red raspberry powder to a high-carbohydrate, moderate-fat meal improved post-meal blood sugar responses and enhanced cognitive performance within hours in adults ages 55 to 70 who are overweight or obese.

Why it matters

As people age, maintaining healthy blood sugar and cognitive function becomes increasingly important. These results suggest that adding red raspberries to the daily diet may have immediate metabolic and cognitive benefits that could be valuable for supporting health as we get older.

The details

The study found that after eating the raspberry-containing meal, participants experienced a smaller rise in blood sugar and a lower insulin response compared to the control meal. Blood samples also showed reduced neuroinflammatory responses, suggesting a potential protective effect on the brain. Participants also performed better on cognitive tests, with improvements in learning and memory tasks.

  • The research was published on February 18, 2026.

The players

Britt Burton-Freeman, PhD, MS

Director of the Center for Nutrition Research at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Washington Red Raspberry Commission

The organization that represents the growers and processors who produce 90% of the American-grown frozen red raspberries.

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What they’re saying

“As we age, maintaining healthy blood sugar and cognitive function becomes increasingly important. These results show that adding red raspberries into your daily diet may have some metabolic and cognitive benefits that are important to all of us as we age.”

— Britt Burton-Freeman, Director of the Center for Nutrition Research, Illinois Institute of Technology

What’s next

Longer-term studies are needed to further understand the potential benefits of red raspberries for metabolic and brain health.

The takeaway

This research suggests that incorporating red raspberries, which are rich in polyphenols, into everyday meals may provide immediate improvements in blood sugar control and cognitive function, offering a simple dietary strategy to support health as we age.