and Purpose: Cerebral ischemia is a common, morbid condition accompanied by cognitive decline. Recent reports on the vascular health benefi ts of fl avanol-containing foods signify a promising approach to the treatment of cerebral ischemia. Our study was designed to investigate the effects of fl avanol-rich cocoa (FRC) consumption on cerebral blood fl ow in older healthy volunteers. Methods: We used transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound to measure mean blood fl ow velocity (MFV) in the middle

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... rebral artery (MCA) in thirty-four healthy elderly volunteers (72 ± 6 years) in response to the regular intake of FRC or fl avanol-poor cocoa (FPC). Results: In response to two weeks of FRC intake, MFV increased by 8% ± 4% at one week (p = 0.01) and 10% ± 4% (p = 0.04) at two weeks. In response to one week of cocoa, significantly more subjects in the FRC as compared with the FPC group had an increase in their MFV (p Ͻ 0.05). Conclusions: In summary, we show that dietary intake of FRC is associated with a signifi cant increase in cerebral blood fl ow velocity in the MCA as measured by TCD. Our data suggest a promising role for regular cocoa fl avanol's consumption in the treatment of cerebrovascular ischemic syndromes, including dementias and stroke.