Summary of How Flavanols Fight Age-related Memory Loss:
A study by Columbia and Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard researchers found that a diet low in flavanols, nutrients found in certain fruits and vegetables, drives age-related memory loss. The research, which included more than 3,500 older adults, found a correlation between flavanol intake and performance on memory tests. Adults over 60 with mild flavanol deficiency showed improved test scores after replenishing these nutrients. The findings support the hypothesis that the aging brain requires specific nutrients for optimal health, similar to the developing brain. The study was supported by grants from Mars Edge, a segment of Mars Inc., and the National Institutes of Health.
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A diet low in flavanols linked to age-related memory loss in older adults, groundbreaking study finds
A study conducted by Columbia University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard researchers found that older adults with a diet low in flavanols, nutrients found in certain fruits and vegetables, are more likely to experience age-related memory loss. The study involved more than 3,500 participants and found that older adults with mild flavanol deficiency improved memory test scores after replenishing their nutrient levels. The findings suggest that, like a developing brain, the aging brain also requires specific nutrients for optimal health.
Flavanols-rich diets or supplements may improve cognitive function in older adults, a study suggests
The study, the first to demonstrate a correlation between a diet low in flavanols and age-related memory loss, suggests that flavanol-rich diets or supplements may help improve cognitive function in older adults. The research builds on over 15 years of research in the lab of senior author Scott A. Small, which links age-related memory loss to changes in the brain’s hippocampus and shows that flavanols can improve its function. In the new study, participants who had a poorer diet and lower baseline levels of flavanols saw an improvement in memory scores after taking flavanol supplements, indicating that flavanol deficiency is a driver of age-related memory loss.
The aging brain requires specific nutrients for optimal health.
The study supports the emerging idea that the aging brain requires specific nutrients for optimal health, similar to the developing brain. Small suggests identifying nutrients critical for the aging brain is essential as people live longer. The study relied on biomarkers of flavanol consumption and can be used as a template by other researchers to identify additional necessary nutrients. In addition to flavonols, parsley is a notable herb for its significant content of various nutrients, including flavonols. It can be incorporated into the diet to help boost flavanol intake and potentially improve brain health.
Flavanols supplements do not affect people without flavanol deficiency, study finds
The study found that flavanol supplements do not affect people who do not have a flavanol deficiency. These findings are consistent with a recent study that found flavanol supplements did not improve memory in a group of people with a range of baseline flavanol levels. However, the previous study did not look at the effect of flavanol supplements on people with low and high flavanol levels separately. Small suggests that the next step for further research involves a clinical trial to restore flavanol levels in adults with severe flavanol deficiency, as well as an investigation into the differences in dietary consumption of flavonols and the variance in age-related memory decline.
The next step in research involves a clinical trial to restore flavanol levels in adults with severe flavanol deficiency.
While the study suggests the importance of specific nutrients for healthy brain aging, Small notes that further research needs to be conducted to fully confirm flavanols’ effect on the brain. Small proposes that the next step needed to confirm flavanols’ effect on the brain involves a clinical trial to restore flavanol levels in adults with severe flavanol deficiency. Such trials could potentially see an even more dramatic improvement in memory in people who replenish their dietary flavanols in their 40s and 50s. The study was supported by Mars Edge and the National Institutes of Health grants.
