The researchers believe that the nutritional composition of peanuts, which includes unsaturated fats, fibre, and biologically active plant compounds, may explain some of the observed effects.
A recent study published in the journal Food & Function suggests that consuming peanuts daily may have a positive effect on the brain's response to insulin in older adults. The research, conducted by scientists at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, involved 31 healthy individuals aged between 60 and 75 years who ate 60 grams of roasted peanuts every day for 16 weeks.
The results showed an improvement in the response of areas in the right hemisphere of the brain to insulin, including parts of the hippocampus and other regions involved in memory processes. The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to measure changes in blood flow to brain regions after administering insulin through the nose.
According to the report, the brain's response to insulin may become less effective with advancing age, leading to age-related cognitive decline. However, the study did not demonstrate that eating peanuts prevents cognitive decline or stops dementia from developing. The researchers believe that the nutritional composition of peanuts, which includes unsaturated fats, fibre, and biologically active plant compounds, may explain some of the observed effects.
The findings build on previous research by the same team, which showed a 3.6% increase in total blood flow to the brain and a 5.8% improvement in verbal memory after a 16-week intervention period. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which the recorded changes in the brain's response to insulin are reflected in memory and mental performance. Conducting studies on larger numbers of participants and following them for longer periods would help to clarify this relationship.
The study's results are promising, but more research is required to fully understand the potential benefits of peanut consumption on brain health. The researchers note that peanuts are a source of the amino acid L-arginine, which the body uses to produce nitric oxide, a compound that helps regulate blood vessel functions and may be linked to learning and memory processes.
