Flavonoids such as isoflavones, anthocyanidins and flavonols continue to gain popularity because of their cancer-fighting potential.

Now, according to a French study, a diet rich in flavonoids could reduce the decline in age-associated mental function.

The said study was conducted by researchers from France's Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) and the Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2.

They recruited 1,640 subjects with an average age of 77 and free of dementia at the start of the study and assessed dietary intakes of flavonoids using food frequency questionnaires four times over 10 years.

After which, cognitive function was measured using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Benton's Visual Retention Test, and the "Isaacs" Set Test.

"We showed that higher intake of flavonoids from food may be associated with a better cognitive evolution over a 10-year period. Whether this reflects a causal association remains to be elucidated.

More cohort studies are needed to further investigate the relation between flavonoid intake and cognitive evolution, including other antioxidant molecules."

Though the results are still investigational, it wouldn't hurt to already increase our dietary intake of flavonoids by eating more fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids are present in most fruits and vegetables, also in coffee, tea and now even chocolate.

Findings have been reported at the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Read the full report at NutraIngredients.