Cocoa supplements ward off dementia

Start taking cocoa supplements to ward off cognitive decline and dementia—especially if you are eating a poor diet.

A 500mg cocoa extract supplement slows the loss of cognitive functions, such as memory and problem solving, but the benefits have been seen only in people who have an unhealthy diet.  

People who eat healthily don’t get any extra benefits from the supplements, say researchers from Mass General Brigham, who are studying the impact of diet on a range of chronic health problems.

They assessed the impact of cocoa supplements on a group of 573 people whose diets were poor.  They were given the supplements for two years and their cognitive skills were regularly assessed.  

These are early results from a much bigger research project the researchers are carrying out on around 21,000 people to see the impact of cocoa supplements on a range of health problems, including heart disease, stroke and cancer.

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