Flavonoids are a group of plant derived polyphenols that have been researched in relation to their health benefits. Flavonoids have been linked to protection from cardiovascular disease because they can prevent damage to the endothelial lining of blood vessels. This protective effect is likely linked to the antioxidant and gene expression activity of flavonoids. Damage to the endothelial lining of blood vessels supplying the brain is though to be a contributory factor in cognitive decline and neurodegeneration in the elderly. It might therefore be expected that high intakes of flavonoids are able to protect against the neurodegeneration associated with aging. Indeed, research published in the Journal of Nutrition in 20091 suggests that those elderly people with the highest intakes of red wine, tea and chocolate have the best test scores on cognitive tasks.
The researchers recruited elder men and women from Norway and performed a battery of test on them designed to accurately record their cognitive ability. To assess the flavonoid intake the researchers then used a frequent food questionnaire to record their diets. The results showed that the performance on all six cognitive tests was better in all cases by the chocolate, wine and tea consumers. Making statistical adjustments to take into account education, smoking status, vitamin supplement use, history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and total energy intakes maintained the mean scores as better amongst wine drinkers. Chocolate eaters had better scores on five of the six tests and tea drinkers on four of the tests. The benefits to cognitive ability therefore appear to be strongest for wine, but tea and chocolate are also beneficial.
RdB
