A recent scientific investigation indicates that consuming peanuts every day could improve how the brain responds to insulin in areas critical for memory, particularly in older adults. The study, conducted by researchers at Maastricht University Medical Centre in the Netherlands and published in the journal Food & Function, aimed to examine the impact of regular peanut intake on cerebral insulin sensitivity as people age.
The experiment involved 31 healthy participants aged between 60 and 75 years. Over a period of 16 weeks, these individuals consumed 60 grams of roasted peanuts with skins and without salt daily. Researchers compared the outcomes of this intervention against a control period where the participants did not eat peanuts.
The results revealed an enhanced response to insulin in specific regions of the right brain hemisphere, including the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, lingual gyrus, and posterior cingulate gyrus. These areas are known to be involved in memory processes and other cognitive functions. To measure these changes, researchers administered insulin intranasally and utilized magnetic resonance imaging based on arterial blood labelling to monitor blood flow variations within the brain.
Insulin is essential for various brain processes related to learning, memory, and communication between nerve cells. As people age, the brain's responsiveness to this hormone often diminishes, a change associated with cognitive decline. While the study observed positive changes in insulin response, the researchers clarified that they did not demonstrate that eating peanuts prevents cognitive decline or halts the development of dementia.
These findings expand upon previous work by the same team published in Clinical Nutrition in 2025. That earlier research reported a 3.6% increase in total blood flow to the brain and a 5.8% improvement in verbal memory following a similar 16-week intervention. The researchers suggest that the nutritional profile of peanuts may drive these effects, citing their content of unsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, plant protein, and biologically active compounds.
Additionally, peanuts are a source of the amino acid L-arginine, which the body converts into nitric oxide. This compound helps regulate blood vessel function and may be linked to learning and memory mechanisms. However, the current study's authors emphasize that further research is needed to determine how these physiological changes translate to actual memory retention and mental performance.
Given the small sample size of 31 participants, the indicators observed are insufficient to definitively claim that peanuts offer protection against Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. Future studies involving larger groups and longer follow-up periods will be necessary to clarify this relationship and assess whether potential benefits persist over time.
Sources: Euronews English.