Cocoa extracts have potential to help with Alzheimer’s disease prevention – but scientists are struggling to obtain consistent samples, researchers say.
A team led by Dr Giulio Pasinetti of The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA, investigated the research on the effects of polyphenols, contained in cocoa extract.
Polyphenols are micronutrients that may have a play to play in reducing age-related cognitive dysfunction.
The team had previously demonstrated this effect in experiments on animals, and believe it may be due to polyphenols inhibiting the dangerous build-up of toxic proteins such as beta-amyloid and tau proteins.
If confirmed, this effect could "play a pivotal role in preventing the loss of synapses that are critical for functional connection among neurons," say the team.
This may "provide a viable and important strategy for preserving cognitive function and, thereby, protecting against the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease," they add.
Writing in yesterday’s (15 September) Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, the experts state that, despite the promises of cocoa polyphenols for treating or preventing Alzheimer’s disease, "there is a need for multidisciplinary collaborative efforts involving cocoa producers, wholesalers, and the biomedical community if we want to succeed in the development of cocoa extract for health benefits".
The global supply of cocoa is diminishing, they warn, and cocoa extract processing suffers from a lack of consistency so polyphenol content can vary widely. This should be carefully addressed before recommendations can be made.
They conclude that the current research suggests "there is strong scientific evidence supporting the growing interest in developing cocoa extract, and potentially certain dietary chocolate preparations, as a natural source to maintain and promote brain health, and in particular to prevent age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease."
Dubner, L. et al. Recommendations for Development of New Standardized Forms of Cocoa Breeds and Cocoa Extract Processing for the Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease: Role of Cocoa in Promotion of Cognitive Resilience and Healthy Brain Aging. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease doi: I0.3233/JAD-150536
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