London - A nightly cup of cocoa could help stave off Alzheimer’s, scientists claim.
Tests showed that a specific type of cocoa stops clumps of proteins from building up in the brain and damaging nerve cells – causing the disease to progress.
Lavado cocoa is full of polyphenols, antioxidants which are also found in fruit and veg, with past studies suggesting that they prevent degenerative brain diseases.
The team also tested the effects of extracts of Dutched and Natural cocoa, but Lavado, which has the highest levels of polyphenols, was found to be most effective at combatting the build up of harmful proteins.
Study leader professor Giulio Maria Pasinetti, of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, suggested Lavado could eventually be made into a dietary supplement to prevent the disease.
The findings are published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. - Daily Mail