Dietary flavanols restore hippocampal-dependent memory in older adults with lower diet quality and lower habitual flavanol consumption
Brickman AM, et al.
Published in PNAS
Methodology
Large randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (COSMOS-Web) of cocoa flavanol supplementation for 12 months in older adults, with a hippocampal-dependent object-recognition memory task and diet-quality stratification.
Key Findings
A one-year cocoa flavanol intervention did not improve memory in the whole cohort (primary endpoint not met), but restored hippocampal-dependent memory performance in participants with poorer baseline diet quality and low habitual flavanol intake.
Conclusions
The prespecified primary endpoint was not met, but the flavanol intervention restored memory among participants with lower habitual flavanol consumption.
Limitations
Negative primary endpoint with a positive subgroup finding, web-based unsupervised cognitive testing, self-reported dietary intake, and industry-supplied study product.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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Disclosures
Funding
Supported by Mars Edge (study product and funding) with NIH support; COSMOS parent trial funded by NIH and Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.
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