Extra-virgin olive oil safeguards against memory loss, preserves learning capacity and reduces conditions associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to research published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.
Researchers at Lewis Klatz School of Medicine in Philadelphia discovered mice that consumed olive oil regularly had improved memories and enhanced learning abilities in comparison to the mice without olive oil in their diets, according to USA Today.
The brain of mice with olive oil diets had better neuron connections, reduced brain inflammation and additional activation of the autophagy process, which removes toxins and debris within cells. A reduction in autophagy is the suspected beginning of Alzheimer's, according to the researchers.
Researchers are now heading back to the lab to test if adding olive oil into the diet of mice at later stages can stop, reverse or reduce the progression of Alzheimer's disease, senior investigator Domenico Pratico, PhD told USA Today.
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