לא הלעלות

The chemical epicatechin - found in foods such as grapes, chocolate, blueberries and tea - helped boost the memory of mice, according to a Salk Institute study in the Journal of Neuroscience.

Advertisement
The researchers also found that mice who were fed a diet supplemented with epicatechin appeared to have greater blood vessel growth in certain parts of their brain. The findings suggest that epicatechin improves blood flow in the brain, especially when combined with exercise, BBC News reported.

"A logical next step will be to study the effects of epicatechin on memory and brain blood flow in aged animals - and then humans, combined with mild exercise," said study leader Dr Henriette van Praag.

"This is an important advance because it identifies a single natural chemical with memory-enhancing effects, suggesting it may be possible to optimise brain function by combining exercise and dietary supplementation," said Dr Mark Mattson of the US National Institute on Ageing, BBC News reported. – (HealthDayNews)

Read more:
Chocolate better than kisses
Chocolate for blood pressure
June 2007
Print this article on

Rate this article
Poor 1 2 3 4 5 Excellent

Send this to a friend

Today's top stories

DISCRIMINATION HURTS HEALTH

SMOKING DAMAGES SPERM

ASPIRIN CAN SAVE SA HEARTS

PESTICIDES, PARKINSON’S LINK

THE SECRET TO YOUNG MUSCLES

ALL-CLEAR FOR HAIR RELAXERS

PRESCHOOLERS CAN DO MATHS

BACK OP EASES PAIN