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Cocoa flavanols and brain perfusion.

Naomi D L Fisher1, Farzaneh A Sorond, Norman K Hollenberg

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. nfisher@partners.org

Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology
|June 24, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Flavanol-rich cocoa intake improves blood vessel function and may benefit brain circulation in older adults. This suggests potential for cocoa flavanols in supporting cognitive health and mitigating age-related vascular decline.

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Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Neuroscience
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Flavonoids, abundant in cocoa, show potential in preventing various chronic diseases.
  • Cocoa flavanols improve endothelial function and vasodilation via nitric oxide.
  • Endothelial dysfunction is a common aspect of aging, impacting vascular and cerebral health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of flavanol-rich cocoa on peripheral vasodilation in healthy older adults.
  • To explore the potential of cocoa flavanols in enhancing cerebral blood flow and cognitive function in the elderly.

Main Methods:

  • Administration of flavanol-rich cocoa to healthy older subjects.
  • Assessment of peripheral vasodilator response.
  • Utilizing transcranial Doppler and MRI for analyzing cerebral perfusion.

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Main Results:

  • Flavanol-rich cocoa induced a significant peripheral vasodilator response in older subjects.
  • Preliminary data suggest that cerebral blood supply in the elderly responds favorably to flavanols.
  • The vasodilator response was nitric oxide-dependent and reversed by N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester.

Conclusions:

  • Flavanol-rich cocoa consumption appears beneficial for vascular function in older individuals.
  • Cocoa flavanols hold promise for improving cerebral perfusion and potentially cognitive function in the elderly.
  • Further research using advanced imaging techniques is warranted to confirm these benefits.