Daily Peanut Consumption Linked to Changes in Brain Insulin Responsiveness Among Older Adults

A study conducted by researchers at Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands has found that regular consumption of unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts may influence insulin responsiveness in specific regions of the brain among older adults. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Food & Function.

The study involved 31 healthy adults aged between 60 and 75. Participants consumed 60 grams of unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts daily for 16 weeks during one phase of the research. They subsequently completed a control period without peanut consumption, allowing researchers to compare the effects of the two conditions.

To assess changes in the brain, the research team used arterial spin labelling magnetic resonance imaging, a technique that measures cerebral blood flow. Researchers examined how blood-flow responses changed following the administration of insulin through the nose, using these changes as an indicator of the brain's responsiveness to the hormone.

The results showed improved insulin responsiveness in a region of the right hemisphere encompassing parts of the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, lingual gyrus and posterior cingulate gyrus. Several of these areas are involved in memory and other cognitive processes.

Insulin plays an important role in brain function, supporting communication between nerve cells and contributing to processes associated with learning and memory. Researchers have therefore been investigating whether dietary patterns that influence brain insulin signalling could have implications for healthy ageing.

Peanuts contain unsaturated fats, plant-based protein, dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and other bioactive compounds. The researchers suggested that these nutrients may have contributed to the observed changes, although the study did not establish which components were responsible.

The findings should be interpreted cautiously because the trial involved a small group of healthy older adults. Improved insulin responsiveness does not, by itself, demonstrate better cognitive performance or protection against dementia. Further research will be needed to confirm the results in larger and more diverse populations and establish their longer-term significance.

05-10-2026