A new study suggests that adding peanuts to your daily diet could improve memory and brain function in older adults.
The research, published on November 1, 2025, in the Clinical Nutrition journal, examined the effects of daily peanut consumption on brain health among adults aged 60 to 75. Researchers found measurable improvements in blood flow to the brain, as well as gains in memory performance, after 16 weeks.
The study, conducted by scientists at Maastricht University Medical Center, focused on whether a simple dietary change could support cognitive health as people age.
Daily peanut intake linked to improved brain blood flow
The study recruited 31 healthy adults who were instructed to eat 60 grams of unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts per day, roughly equivalent to two servings. Using advanced brain imaging, researchers found that participants experienced a 3.6% increase in cerebral blood flow by the end of the study period.
“Cerebral blood flow 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, study author and associate professor in the university’s Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences.
Researchers also observed increased blood flow in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, regions associated with memory and cognitive processing.
In addition to changes in blood flow, participants showed a 5.8% improvement in verbal memory after the 16-week intervention. The study also noted decreases in both blood pressure and pulse pressure among those consuming peanuts daily.
According to the researchers, improved vascular function in the brain may be relevant to reducing the risk of age-related cognitive decline, as blood vessel function can deteriorate with age.
“The number of people who suffer from age-related cognitive decline or are diagnosed with dementia is increasing rapidly,” Joris said. He added that peanuts are widely consumed and nutrient-dense, making them a practical focus for research into healthy aging.
This is just the latest study to go viral online. Earlier in December, it was revealed that smelling your own farts could fend off alzheimers, and eating certain cheeses could help prevent dementia.
