Low-flavanol diet drives age-related memory loss, large study finds (16% memory improvement with flavanol increase)

Medical Xpress / Columbia Univ Irving Medical Cntr / Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ^ | May 29, 2023 | Brickman, Adam M. et al

[ConservativeMind]

A large-scale study is the first to establish that a diet low in flavanols—nutrients found in certain fruits and vegetables—drives age-related memory loss.

The study found that replenishing these bioactive dietary components in mildly flavanol-deficient adults over age 60 improves performance on these tests.

The current study builds on over 15 years of research linking age-related memory loss to changes in the dentate gyrus, showing that flavanols improved function in this brain region.

Additional research found that flavanols—particularly a bioactive substance in flavanols called epicatechin—improved memory by enhancing the growth of neurons and blood vessels and in the hippocampus.

Next, Small's team tested flavanol supplements in people and showed that flavanols improved memory by acting selectively on this brain region and had the most impact on those starting out with a poor-quality diet.

More than 3,500 healthy older adults were randomly assigned to receive a daily flavanol supplement (in pill form) or placebo pill for three years. The active supplement contained 500 mg of flavanols, including 80 mg epicatechins, an amount that adults are advised to get from food.

At the end of the first year of taking the flavanol supplement, participants who reported consuming a poorer diet and had lower baseline levels of flavanols saw their memory scores increase by an average of 10.5% compared to placebo and 16% compared to their memory at baseline. Annual cognitive testing showed the improvement observed at one year was sustained for at least two more years.

The findings of the new study are consistent with those of a recent study, which found that flavanol supplements did not improve memory in a group of people with a range of baseline flavanol levels.

[Seaplaner]

Yes, this, and EGCG (think green tea).

[matthew fuller]

I take NOW EGCg supplement, NOW apple pectin supplements, and have changed over from orange juice to Musselman Apple cider, as well as a frequent glass of low sodium V-8.

[rod5591]

Thank you!