A recent study suggests that drinking cocoa with flavanol daily
improves the mental functioning of patients with mild dementia
Dr. Giovambattista Desderi, director of the Geriatric
Division of the University of L’Aquila in Italy, reported that 90 elderly
persons with mild cognitive impairment drank daily either 990 mgs, 520 mgs, or
45 mgs of a dairy based cocoa flavanol drink for eight weeks. (A flavanol is an antioxidant found in
various types of plants, particularly the cocoa plant.) Not only did participants who drank higher
levels of cocoa have higher overall cognitive scores at the end of the study
than those who drank lower levels, but the blood pressure also decreased in
those who drank high and intermediate levels of flavanols daily.
Wouldn’t it be fine to drink cocoa daily? If that can improve mental functioning in
those with mild dementia, can it prevent the occurrence of dementia in the first
place? Would it reduce my blood pressure? I hereby volunteer to participate
in a study that examines these questions, as long as I’m in the group that gets
to drink the most cocoa.
2010-2012 Anchises-An Old Man’s Journal All Rights Reserved
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