A new study suggests that the intake of chocolate may result in an increase in brain power, Science World Report reports.

"With the exception of Working Memory, these relations were not attenuated with statistical control for cardiovascular, lifestyle and dietary factors," said researchers, who noted thateating chocolate can help protect against the natural cognitive declines that come with age.

Researchers at the Luxembourg Institute of Health, University of South Australia and University of Maine studied the dietary habits of close to 1,000 residents in Syracuse, NY.

The information was taken from the Maine-Syracuse LongitudinalStudy (MSLS).

The participants of the study were given a number of tests that were designed to measure a wide range of cognitive function, including 'Visual-Spatial Memory and Organization, Working Memory, Scanning and Tracking, Abstract Reasoning, and the Mini-Mental State Examination.'

"With the exception of Working Memory, these relations were not attenuated with statistical control for cardiovascular, lifestyle and dietary factors," the researchers noted.

The findings of the study showed that frequent consumption of chocolate was associated with better cognitive performance "irrespective of other dietary habits," the researchers concluded.