Eating a handful of peanuts every day may offer more than nutritional benefits. New research from Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands suggests that regular consumption of unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts could positively influence insulin-related activity in brain regions associated with memory in older adults.

The findings provide fresh insight into the possible connection between everyday food choices and brain health as people grow older. Researchers believe certain nutrients found in peanuts may contribute to these effects, although much more investigation is needed before making firm health recommendations.

Researchers Examine the Effects of Daily Peanut Consumption

The study involved 31 healthy adults between the ages of 60 and 75. Participants followed a controlled dietary programme in which they consumed 60 grams of unsalted, skin-roasted peanuts every day for 16 weeks.

Researchers compared the results with a separate period during which participants avoided peanuts. The two phases were separated by an eight-week break, allowing the research team to examine differences between the dietary conditions.

To investigate the brain’s response to insulin, scientists used specialised MRI technology known as arterial spin labelling. This technique measures changes in blood flow within different areas of the brain.

The researchers examined how blood flow changed after insulin was administered through the nose, helping them assess insulin-related responses in specific brain regions.

Memory-Related Brain Regions Showed Changes

The analysis identified a difference in insulin-associated blood-flow responses in a region of the right side of the brain following the peanut intervention.

The affected area included structures associated with memory and cognitive processing, including parts of the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus and lingual gyrus.

Insulin is widely recognised for its role in controlling blood sugar, but it also performs important functions in the brain. It supports communication between nerve cells and participates in processes involved in learning, memory and brain metabolism.

As people age, changes in the brain’s response to insulin may be associated with declining cognitive function. The researchers therefore believe that the observed changes deserve further investigation.

Importantly, the study measured brain responses rather than demonstrating that participants experienced a definite improvement in everyday memory during this particular trial.

Why Peanuts Could Influence Brain Function

Peanuts contain several nutrients that may contribute to healthy brain function. These include unsaturated fats, plant-based protein, dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and naturally occurring plant compounds.

They are also a source of L-arginine, an amino acid that the body uses to produce nitric oxide. This substance helps regulate blood vessel function and supports healthy circulation.

Scientists believe that the combined effects of these nutritional components could help explain why peanut consumption has attracted attention in research on brain health.

No single nutrient has yet been identified as the sole reason for the observed changes.

Earlier Research Also Found Improvements in Blood Flow and Memory

The latest investigation builds on an earlier study conducted by the same research group and published in 2025.

That research examined the effects of consuming 60 grams of skin-roasted peanuts daily for 16 weeks. Scientists reported a 3.6% increase in overall cerebral blood flow and a 5.8% improvement in performance on a delayed verbal memory test.

Together, the findings provide a possible explanation for how peanut consumption might influence brain function. However, they do not establish that peanuts can prevent dementia or reverse age-related memory loss.

Researchers Urge Caution Despite Promising Findings

Although the results are encouraging, the study had a relatively small sample of just 31 participants. It also involved healthy older adults rather than people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

The research did not demonstrate that eating peanuts prevents neurological disorders, and its findings cannot automatically be applied to every age group.

Larger studies involving more participants and longer observation periods will be necessary to establish whether these changes translate into meaningful, lasting improvements in cognitive health.

People with peanut allergies should avoid peanuts, and dietary changes should take individual health needs into account.

A New Direction in Nutrition and Brain Research

Published in the journal Food & Function in October 2026, the Maastricht research adds to growing scientific interest in the relationship between nutrition, brain circulation and cognitive ageing.

The findings suggest that a familiar food may influence biological processes in memory-related brain regions. While peanuts are not a proven treatment for memory problems, the research offers another reason for scientists to investigate how everyday dietary habits may affect the ageing brain.