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Longer-term skin-roasted peanut consumption improves brain vascular function and memory: A randomized, single-blind, controlled crossover trial in healthy older adults
Reduced brain vascular function is a contributor to age-related cognitive decline. This research aimed to elucidate the long-term effects of skin-roasted peanut consumption on both brain vascular function and cognitive performance among older adults. In a randomized, single-blind, controlled crossover trial involving 31 healthy participants (mean age 67 ± 4 years, BMI 26.7 ± 3.3 kg/m²), subjects consumed 60 g/day of unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts for 16 weeks, with an 8-week washout period. The primary outcome, global cerebral blood flow (CBF), was assessed using arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging, while cognitive performance was evaluated through the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).
The intervention was well-tolerated with median compliance at 100% (IQR 99–100%). Results showed a significant increase in global CBF by 3.6% (intervention effect: 1.5 mL/100 g/min, 95% CI [0.3, 2.6], p = 0.014) and gray matter CBF by 4.5% (2.2 mL/100 g/min, 95% CI [0.9, 3.6], p = 0.002) during the peanut consumption phase. Additionally, verbal memory demonstrated a 5.8% improvement in the delayed recall condition of the verbal recognition memory task. However, no significant enhancements were observed in executive function or psychomotor speed. Notably, systolic blood pressure decreased by 5 mmHg (95% CI [-8, -2], p = 0.004) and pulse pressure by 4 mmHg (95% CI [-7, -1], p = 0.006) during the intervention.
In conclusion, daily consumption of skin-roasted peanuts for 16 weeks significantly improved brain vascular function in healthy older adults, which may underlie the observed enhancements in verbal memory. This suggests a potential mechanism by which increased peanut intake positively influences cognitive performance. [NPID: Peanut, vascular function, cognitive performance, memory]
Year: 2025
