A new study has reached several alarming conclusions about canola oil. First, it can increase plaque build-up in the brain, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. It can make memory loss in Alzheimer's patients worse, and impact their learning ability negatively.

Contrast this with olive oil, which has been shown in studies to improve memory impairment in patients with Alzheimer's. It also reduces the levels of the amyloid plaques in the brain that are linked to tissue loss and cell death in those with this degenerative illness.

In this study, researchers used an animal model that mimics Alzheimer's in humans as it progresses from the asymptomatic early stages to the full-blown disease. The mice were placed into two groups when they were six months old. One consumed a normal diet, and the other received a normal diet along with the equivalent of two tablespoons of canola oil per day.