Studies investigating the neuroprotective effects of foods and beverages containing flavonoids suggest that they may lead to benefits regarding memory and learning by improving neuronal functioning and promoting neuronalprotection and regeneration(1). In rodents, dietary flavanone supplementation (e.g. hesperidin) over several weeks is associated with significant improvements in spatial working memory. Moreover, these cognitive improvements correlate with increased expression of signalling proteins involved in learning and memory, as well as increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus(2,3). These are important findings, as increased expression of BDNF is associated with benefits for cognitive function in humans such as slower onset of Alzheimer’s disease(4). This supports the presence of mechanistic pathways by which citrus fruit-based flavanones may have positive effects on the brain. Epidemiological data showing an association between flavanone consumption and crystallised intelligence(5) aresupported by positive effects from several human intervention studies indicating cognitive benefits in adults following chronic consumption of flavanone-rich fruits and vegetables(6,7). For example, improved memory function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been observed following daily consumption of concord grape juice for 12(8) and 16 weeks(9). Of particular relevance here is a recent finding that daily consumption of flavanone-rich orange juice for 8 weeks was associated with improvements in executive function and episodic memory in healthy, older adults aged 60–81 years(10). This indicates that consumption of fruit juices that contain flavanones as the predominant flavonoid may lead to benefits for the human brain, even in healthy adults. Neuroimaging studies in young, human adults have demonstrated that consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa can acutely enhance peripheral and cerebral blood flow (CBF)(11,12). Furthermore, promising associations have been observed