A daily handful of peanuts may do more than satisfy a snack craving, it could help keep the brain healthy. A new clinical trial from Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands found that eating unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts every day for 16 weeks improved blood flow to the brain and boosted memory performance in healthy older adults.
The study was funded by The Peanut Institute Foundation, which did not participate in the study design, data analysis or publication decisions. The findings, published in Clinical Nutrition, add to growing evidence that nutrient-rich foods like peanuts may support both vascular and cognitive function.
The trial involved 31 adults between 60 and 75 years old who alternated between a peanut-enriched diet and a control period without peanuts. Using MRI brain imaging and cognitive testing, researchers found that participants’ global cerebral blood flow increased by 3.6% and verbal memory improved by 5.8% after daily peanut intake. Blood pressure also declined modestly during the peanut phase.
“CBF is an important physiological marker of brain vascular function and refers to the amount of blood that flows through the brain, delivering oxygen and nutrients that are essential for maintaining brain health,” said Dr. Peter Joris, associate professor at Maastricht University and lead author. “We found that longer-term consumption of unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts improved global CBF, which suggests an overall enhancement in brain vascular function.”
The brain imaging results showed increased blood flow in the frontal and temporal lobes, regions involved in memory and attention.
“For the first time, we demonstrated that peanut intake improved brain vascular function in healthy older adults,” Joris said. “These favorable effects may help explain the observed improvements in memory.”
Peanuts’ nutritional makeup may explain their effect. They are high in plant-based protein, L-arginine, an amino acid linked to vascular health, plus unsaturated fats and polyphenols that help support blood vessel function. The study used skin-roasted peanuts because their natural skins provide extra fiber and antioxidant compounds.
Although the results are encouraging, researchers note that the trial was small and short-term. Larger studies are needed to confirm whether daily peanut consumption can maintain brain health or slow age-related decline. Still, the findings reinforce the idea that foods promoting cardiovascular health may benefit the brain as well.