Eating Chocolate May Boost Brain Power

New findings published in the journal Appetite reveal that eating chocolate may lead to better brain function.

"With the exception of Working Memory, these relations were not attenuated with statistical control for cardiovascular, lifestyle and dietary factors," said researchers, who noted that eating chocolate can help protect against the natural cognitive declines that come with age. 

Researchers at the Luxembourg Institute of Health, University of South Australia and University of Maine analyzed information derived from the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study (MSLS), which examined the dietary habits of close to 1,000 residents in Syracuse, NY.

Participants were assigned numerous tests designed to measure wide range of cognitive function, including ‘Visual-Spatial Memory and Organization, Working Memory, Scanning and Tracking, Abstract Reasoning, and the Mini-Mental State Examination.'

The findings showed that frequent consumption of chocolate was linked to enhanced cognitive performance "irrespective of other dietary habits," the researchers concluded. 

"With the exception of Working Memory, these relations were not attenuated with statistical control for cardiovascular, lifestyle and dietary factors," they noted.

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