A recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has suggested that consuming flavanols, a chemical compound found in cocoa, tea, and grapes, may improve memory in some older adults. The study involved more than 3,500 participants and lasted for three years, with half receiving a flavanol dietary supplement and the other half receiving a placebo. The results showed that those with low diet quality scores who received the flavanol supplement had a sustained increase in baseline memory levels compared to those who received the placebo. However, those with medium and high diet quality scores did not see the same improvements. The study was partially funded by Mars Inc. food company.
While some experts in the field are skeptical of the benefits of increased flavanol intake, Dr. Aedin Cassidy, Chair in Nutrition & Preventative Medicine at the Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, suggests that the dosage required for improvements in brain health is readily achievable. She recommends incorporating plants that are affordable, accessible, culturally relevant, and tasty as an entry point to incorporating flavanols into one's diet.
Dr. Adam Brickman, one of the authors of the study, emphasizes the importance of tapping into memory systems that change with normal aging, rather than focusing on conditions such as Alzheimer's. While research like this can have a significant impact on the field of cognitive aging, it's important to note that studies like this can give the "illusion of benefit" and that it's much better for individuals to focus on eating better, walking more, and sleeping well rather than immediately seeking out drastic increases in their flavanol intake.
Overall, incorporating dietary flavanols may be an integral part of a preventive nutrition strategy that promotes healthy aging, but it's important to prioritize a healthy diet overall rather than solely relying on flavanol supplements.