Superfood in the fight against dementia: How a cup of cocoa before bed boosts memory

A new study has found that a cup of cocoa a day can help improve memory.

16:42 27 October 2014

Chocolate could be the key superfood when it comes to fighting the devastating effects of dementia as a recent study suggests that its key ingredients can increase blood flow to the part of the brain that helps memory. It added that it may even help reverse age-related memory decline in healthy older people.

Dietary cocoa flavanols, the antioxidants found in cocoa, helped improve the memory of pensioners, the research added.

Researchers studied the link between normal memory decline and specific brain regions. They also examined whether the key ingredients would enhance cognitive performance in a sample of 37 people aged 50 to 69. The findings where published online by the journal Nature Neuroscience.

Dr Clare Walton, research manager at the Alzheimer's Society, said: 'This well-designed but small study suggests the antioxidants found in cocoa can improve cognitive performance by improving blood flow to a certain region of the brain.

'The brain region is known to be affected in ageing, but as yet we don't know whether these brain changes are involved in dementia.

'With the winter nights setting in, many of us will be settling down with a nice hot cup of cocoa at the end of our day.

'However, the jury is still out as to whether partaking in things high in antioxidants can improve your memory or reduce your risk of dementia.'