Extra virgin olive oil continues to prove itself an ally of good health: scientific research shows that it may help protect the brain as it ages thanks to the natural presence of a phenolic compound called hydroxytyrosol.

During the study, conducted by Dr. Giorgio D’Andrea at the Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology of the National Research Council (IBBC-CNR) and published in the prestigious international journal “Journal of Neurochemistry”, it was observed that hydroxytyrosol appears to play a role in regulating anxiety and the response to stress, reducing, among other things, sensitivity to fear and alleviating neuroinflammation.

Dr. D’Andrea’s work, which is more strategic than ever in a country facing an issue of an increasingly aging population due to a declining birth rate and, fortunately, an increasing life expectancy, received initial funding from the Monini oil company, awarded on merit through the annual public call for proposals by the Umberto Veronesi Foundation ETS.

“I thank Monini for the support it provided when I began my research; the scientific method takes years to yield results, and the support of resources made available by private entities is essential for working with greater peace of mind,” states Dr. D’Andrea.

To read the study: Hydroxytyrosol Mitigates Anxiety-Like Behaviors After a Traumatic Experience in Aged Mice in Parallel With Increased Neurogenesis in the Ventral and Dorsal Dentate Gyrus, and Preservation of Gut Microbiota Composition.