It’s getting cold outside and a hot cup of cocoa goes great with a warm fire. But could that winter comfort drink be a solution to one of the biggest problems plaguing today’s elderly? A recent study published in Neurology suggest having two cups of hot cocoa each day could help prevent the cognitive decline associated with aging and Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School say hot cocoa works by increasing blood flow to the brain, particularly areas of the brain associated with memory and cognition. They believe it works by increasing something called neurovascular coupling, where blood flow actually changes in response to local brain activity.
In the study, 60 people with an average age of 73 years and no detectable markers for Alzheimer’s disease, were given two cups of hot cocoa each day for a period of 30 days. During that time they consumed no other chocolate. Then, the participants took memory and thinking skills tests as well as ultrasounds to determine blood flow levels.
