A new research done on cognitive studies revealed that dietary cocoa flavanols or cocoa-rich diets are effective and beneficial for the improvement of age-related cognitive function and reversing memory loss.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Giovambattisa Desideri, of the University of L’aquila in Italy, said that the outcome of the study are encouraging to establish that a diet rich in cocoa flavanols has significant impact in maintaining cognitive health.
In the study, researchers enlisted both males and females between the age group of 61 to 85 years with no cognitive dysfunction. It was a double-blind, controlled, and randomized study. The duration of the study was 8 weeks.
The participants were divided into three flavanol groups; consuming drinks containing high, intermediate, or low amount of cocoa flavanol; daily throughout the study period. Along with the drinks, the participants maintained a normal diet and regular lifestyle during the study period.
At the end of the study, the researchers found improved and normal cognitive function in participants who were consuming high and intermediate flavanol drinks. The cognitive function was measured using a battery of tests, which examined retention, recall, memory, and execution functions.
The outcome also showed evidence of cardiac benefits and improvement of insulin resistance.
The study was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
