Dark chocolate and berries may aid memory and reduce stress, study finds

New Delhi: A new animal study suggests that consuming dark chocolate or berries could help improve memory and reduce stress, thanks to compounds called flavanols found abundantly in cocoa and berries.

Researchers from Japan’s Shibaura Institute of Technology found that flavanols can trigger physiological responses similar to those induced by physical exercise. These responses activate the central nervous system, enhancing attention, arousal, and memory, while also protecting against neuronal damage.

“Stress responses elicited by flavanols in this study are similar to those elicited by physical exercise,” said Dr Yasuyuki Fujii. “Moderate intake of flavanols, despite their poor bioavailability, can improve health and quality of life.”

Published in the journal Current Research in Food Science, the study explored how flavanols influence the nervous system through sensory stimulation. Researchers hypothesised that the astringent taste of flavanols, a dry, puckering sensation, may act as a direct signal to the brain.

Experiments were conducted on 10-week-old mice, which received oral doses of flavanols at 25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg body weight. Control mice were given distilled water. Behavioural tests revealed that flavanol-fed mice showed increased motor activity, exploratory behaviour, and improved learning and memory.

The study also found elevated levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, levodopa, norepinephrine, and normetanephrine in the brain shortly after flavanol administration. These chemicals are key regulators of motivation, attention, and stress response.

Additionally, enzymes involved in noradrenaline synthesis and transport, including tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, and vesicular monoamine transporter 2, were upregulated, enhancing the noradrenergic system’s signalling capacity.

Biochemical analysis showed higher urinary levels of catecholamines, hormones released during stress, and increased activity in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), a brain region central to stress regulation.

(Inputs from IANS)