Recent studies have shown that drinking two cups of chocolate a day can help older people keep their brains healthy and their brain skills sharp. Research conducted by Harvard Medical School in Boston in collaboration with the National Institute on Aging and the National Heart Institute, notes in the latest issue of the journal Neurology, that cocoa is linked to brain hygiene.
The study
The experiment to learn about the effects of chocolate on the brain was conducted with sixty people with an average age of 73 years and no symptoms of dementia. For 30 days, the participants drank two cups of hot chocolate daily and were not allowed to eat any other type of chocolate. During that month, they were tested for memory and thinking ability. Also, during the study, blood flow to the brain was monitored through an ultrasound test.
Results
Of the total number of participants, 18 had decreased blood flow at the start of the study. After 30 days of taking chocolate, the results showed an 8.3% improvement in blood flow in the related areas of the brain, although there was no improvement in those who had normal blood flow at the start of the study.
The researchers also observed that those participants with blood flow problems at the start of the study improved their memory test scores from 167 seconds to 116 seconds 30 days into the experiment.
Of the 60 people studied, half received hot chocolate rich in the antioxidant flavanol, while the other half received hot chocolate poor in this natural compound. No differences were perceived between the two groups.
The researchers say more testing still needs to be done on the link between cocoa and improved blood flow and cognitive impairment, but this study is certainly a big step that will help guide future experiments.