A recent study offers one possible way to keep cognitive function strong, and it could be tasty.
In a study partially funded by the Mars candy company, 37 people between 50 and 69 were provided with diets that differed greatly in the amount of flavanols. They were randomly assigned to consume either 900 mg or just 10 mg of flavanols from cocoa daily.
Brain scans and cognitive testing after three months determined that people performed better at the high levels of flavanols.
Where to Find Flavanols
Mars created a special high-flavanol drink just for the study that is not available commercially, and nutritionists warn that flavanol levels in chocolate bars are not high enough to be helpful.
Berries and tea may offer other sources of flavanol compounds that are similar but not identical. Animal research and some human studies have shown that blueberries, for example, can help cognitive function.
We will need to watch for new products that offer cocoa flavanols without the extra sugar and fat found in most chocolate candies. For the time being, the Mars product CocoaVia with 250 mg cocoa flavanols per packet may be among the most reliable sources, according to ConsumerLab.com.
[Brickman, et al., Nature Neuroscience, online Oct. 26, 2014]
