A popular spice can improve brain performance, according to a review of over 40 studies. The food not only helps to remember things better, but apparently also protects once morest dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Cinnamon is a wonderful food and spice that not only spices up rice pudding or pudding, but also appears to improve brain performance. That finding comes from a review of over 40 cinnamon studies, which says a daily pinch of the food facilitates learning and protects once morest dementia in old age.
Cinnamon is so healthy
Scientists have known for a long time that cinnamon can do more than give sweet and savory dishes that certain something. Previous studies have shown that cinnamon has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. The spice also strengthens the immune system, protects the heart and keeps blood sugar in check (FITBOOK reported). Researchers at Birjand University of Medical Sciences in Iran are now evaluating 40 studies that looked at the effects of cinnamon on brain performance. The vast majority of these studies found that cinnamon consumption significantly improves learning and memory in humans.1
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What compounds in cinnamon improve brain performance
The in-vivo studies (i.e. real living organisms such as humans, rodents or other animals were examined) showed that the components contained in cinnamon, such as eugenol, cinnamic aldehyde and cinnamic acid, have a positive effect on cognitive function. In vitro studies (including in the test tube) also showed that the said compounds increase cell growth and cell viability and slow down deposits of tau proteins. The latter are suspected of being involved in the development of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
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Better learning achievement in teenagers, lower risk of dementia in the elderly
According to the studies, cinnamon is literally a spice for young and old. One of them asked young people to chew cinnamon gum. Overall, the study reports positive results suggesting that chewing cinnamon gum improves memory while reducing anxiety, e.g. B. reduced in exam stress. According to other studies, cinnamon might massively reduce the risk of dementia in older people or have a protective effect.
The results were not always clear. Another study, in which prediabetic participants were asked to eat a slice of bread with two grams of cinnamon every day, did not find any significant differences in memory performance.
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Researchers hope for further studies
Overall, however, the majority of the systematic review article indicates that cinnamon has a positive effect on brain performance. The Iranian team of scientists now hopes to inspire other researchers to further study the effects of cinnamon on memory. Perhaps the popular spice holds an important key to prevent and treat neurological diseases or learning difficulties.
