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Cocoa 'improves flow of blood to the brain'
August 12, 2013
A study suggests that cocoa may be linked to improved vascular health and even improved cognition.
Two cups of cocoa a day could help to improve the flow of blood to the brain in older people at risk of vascular problems, new research suggests.
Scientists at Harvard Medical School studied 60 people, aged 65 and over, who were deemed to be at risk of vascular problems because of high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes or excess body weight.
Participants were given two cups of cocoa per day and the researchers found that 89 percent of those with impaired blood flow to the brain at the start of the study showed improvements after 30 days of treatment.
Many also achieved higher cognitive scores by the end of the study period.
Study author Dr Farzaneh Sorond, whose findings are published in Neurology journal, suggested that the flow of blood to different areas of the brain "may play an important role in diseases such as Alzheimer's".
Dr Simon Ridley, head of research at the charity Alzheimer's Research UK, said it is too soon to draw conclusions about the effects of cocoa on vascular problems and cognition.
He added: "It would be useful to see longer studies to investigate cocoa's long-term effects."
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