ST. LOUIS -- Olive oil, a staple of a Mediterranean diet,
reverses memory loss and improves learning, a study in an animal
model at Saint Louis University found. |Susan Farr, Ph.D.| "Our
research strengthens the case for olive oil," said Susan Farr,
Ph.D., research professor of geriatrics at Saint Louis
University School of Medicine. "Our research with mice lends
credibility to the idea that extra virgin olive oil is really
good for you and could even help if you already have some mild
dementia. The take home message is to use extra virgin olive oil
in your cooking." The Mediterranean diet has long been
associated with good health -- reduced heart disease, fewer
cases of cancer, less obesity and a reduced risk of Alzheimer's
disease. Farr wanted to test one of the most critical parts of
the Mediterranean diet -- extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) -- to
see if it improved memory, learning and thinking. As the first
oil pressed from olives, extra virgin olive oil is particularly
healthy because it retains rich antio