Regularly eating nuts is linked to higher cognitive test performance in older adults, according to research published in the journal Food & Function.
The authors of the study analyzed health records from 1,771 participants in the Framingham Heart Study. The participant group had a mean age of approximately 61 years at the time of assessment.
Investigators tracked habitual nut consumption and evaluated participants across multiple biological and mental markers. These included memory and thinking test scores, total brain volume, neurotrophic factor levels, and ten-year tracking for stroke and dementia.
Cognitive test scores
Among participants who had not experienced a stroke, higher nut intake was associated with better overall performance on cognitive examinations. The research team noted that this positive association was most noticeable in participants who got little physical exercise or maintained a lower-quality diet.
For participants who were physically active, eating nuts was associated with a larger total brain volume. However, the study recorded no link between regular nut consumption and a reduced incidence of stroke or dementia over the ten-year observation period.
Scientific and institutional background
The Framingham Heart Study is a long-standing medical research project established in Massachusetts in 1948 to analyze cardiovascular disease patterns across generations of residents. Food & Function is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that focuses on the intersection of food chemistry, nutrition science, and human physiology.
Neurotrophic factors are specialized proteins that regulate the survival, growth, and structural plasticity of neurons in the brain. Total brain volume is a key anatomical metric in neuroimaging, as structural shrinkage often correlates with age-related cognitive decline.
Dementia is an umbrella term for neurological conditions characterized by impairment in memory, language, and problem-solving abilities severe enough to interfere with daily living. A stroke occurs when blood flow to a region of the brain is blocked or reduced, depriving brain tissue of essential oxygen and nutrients.
Previous research on dietary nuts
The publication adds to a growing body of scientific literature examining how daily dietary choices affect neurological function. Earlier findings by researchers revealed that daily almond consumption helps improve sleep quality.
