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Eating peanuts every day may help support brain health and memory in older adults, according to new research from Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands.
The study found that consuming unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts daily improved insulin responsiveness in brain regions linked to memory. Researchers believe the findings could offer new insight into how everyday foods support healthy brain aging.
Published in the peer-reviewed journal Food & Function, the research examined the effects of regular peanut consumption over 16 weeks.
Daily Peanut Consumption Linked to Better Brain Function
Researchers studied 31 healthy adults between the ages of 60 and 75. Participants consumed 60 grams of unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts daily during the 16-week intervention.
That amount is approximately two servings of peanuts. Participants could eat their portions in the morning or afternoon. They could also divide them throughout the day or add them to meals.
The researchers used a randomized, controlled crossover trial. This allowed them to compare participants’ results during peanut consumption with their results during a period without peanuts.
After 16 weeks, researchers observed improved insulin responsiveness in several brain regions on the right side of the brain.
These regions included the hippocampus, lingual gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus and posterior cingulate gyrus. Each plays a role in memory-related processes.
The findings suggest that daily peanut consumption may support brain functions that can become less efficient with age.
How Insulin Supports Memory and Brain Health
Insulin is widely known for regulating blood sugar. However, the hormone also plays an important role in brain health.
It supports the growth and survival of nerve cells. It also helps brain cells communicate with one another.
These functions contribute to memory and other cognitive abilities. Healthy insulin signaling may also help protect against processes associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
However, the brain can become less responsive to insulin as people age. Researchers have linked this change to age-related cognitive decline.
Dr. Peter Joris, the study’s senior author, explained that daily peanut consumption positively affected insulin responsiveness in memory-related brain regions.
The findings suggest that improved brain insulin responsiveness could contribute to the cognitive benefits associated with eating unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts.
Earlier Study Found Improvements in Memory and Blood Flow
The latest research builds on an earlier investigation published by Joris and his colleagues in 2025.
That study also examined the effects of eating peanuts daily for 16 weeks. Researchers found that peanut consumption increased overall cerebral blood flow by 3.6%.
Participants also experienced a 5.8% improvement in verbal memory performance.
Cerebral blood flow measures how much blood circulates through the brain. This blood carries oxygen and nutrients that brain cells need to function.
Healthy blood circulation is important for brain function and the health of blood vessels.
The earlier findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Nutrition.
Nutrients in Peanuts May Support Brain Health
Researchers believe several nutrients in peanuts could explain their potential benefits for the brain.
Peanuts contain unsaturated fats, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and bioactive phytochemicals. They are also a source of plant-based protein.
The researchers particularly highlighted L-arginine, an amino acid found in peanuts.
L-arginine helps the body produce nitric oxide. Previous research has linked nitric oxide to processes that support learning and memory performance.
However, researchers have not identified one specific peanut nutrient as responsible for the observed effects. They believe several components may work together.
What the Findings Mean for Healthy Aging
The study provides further evidence that everyday dietary choices may influence brain health as people grow older.
However, the findings should be interpreted carefully. The research involved only 31 healthy adults between 60 and 75 years old.
It also examined specific types of peanuts over a defined period. The results do not establish that eating peanuts prevents Alzheimer’s disease or reverses memory loss.
The researchers used advanced brain imaging to measure changes in insulin responsiveness. They also assessed cognitive abilities using standardized computerized tests.
The study was led by Associate Professor Dr. Peter J. Joris, with Ph.D. candidate Lucia Kerkhof conducting the research.
The Peanut Institute Foundation funded the study. Researchers reported that the foundation did not participate in the study’s design, analysis or interpretation.
Further research involving larger groups of participants will help determine how peanut consumption affects brain health over time.
Source: ScienceDaily
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