Extra virgin olive oil can positively affect brain health and improve the functionality of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in patients with moderate cognitive impairment. According to a pilot study published by Nutrients, you need to consume olive oil from 6 months daily. Eating refined olive oil can improve the indicators of clinical dementia and biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease.
The scientists noted that reduced BBB functionality is a common characteristic of mild cognitive impairment and early-stage Alzheimer's disease. This usually leads to abnormal permeability of the BBB, which can contribute to the development of dementia. This barrier "protects" the brain, maintaining the concentration of substances necessary for it to work normally, even if they have decreased in the blood as a whole, and vice versa, protects the brain from any toxins that have entered the circulatory system.
It is important that this study is on humans, not animals, and also focuses specifically on the brain, not vital signs in general. The authors of the study focused on 25 people suffering from moderate cognitive impairment. They assessed the effect of daily consumption of EVOO and refined olive oil for six months on BBB permeability and brain function. In addition, they looked for changes in cognitive functions and biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in the blood.
"We did not expect such an effect from the consumption of refined olive oil. We really need more extensive research to make final conclusions. However, we should not underestimate the potentially beneficial health effects of the oleic acid content in olive oil, which is found in both EVOO and refined olive oil. EVOO has significantly improved the assessment of clinical dementia and behavioral indicators. EVOO also reduced BBB permeability and improved brain functional connectivity," the researchers reported.