Olive oil has been shown to improve memory

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Scientists have found that extra virgin olive oil can have a positive effect on people with mild cognitive impairment. In particular, it can improve their memory.

The new study involved 25 people with mild cognitive impairment. They consumed 30 ml, or about three tablespoons, of olive oil per day for six months. 13 participants drank extra virgin olive oil, and 12 drank refined olive oil. The first type is rich in phenols.

The participants underwent several tests before and after consuming olive oil, including MRI scans, a series of cognitive tests, and blood tests for biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease. Both types of oil were found to improve cognitive function. The first type altered the function of the blood-brain barrier and functional connectivity between different brain regions, while the second increased functional brain activation in memory tasks in brain areas involved in cognition.

“Although we need more research to understand the mechanisms by which olive oil has such effects in humans, the results of our preclinical studies in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease showed that extra virgin olive oil alleviated several pathological signs,” the scientists noted.