Scientists have found that eating peanuts, peanut butter and boiled peanuts has beneficial properties for many age groups:

• In adults aged 18-33, they found that eating peanuts was associated with improved memory function and a reduction in anxiety, depression and stress. ¹
• Adults aged 55 and over who consumed at least a handful of peanuts (approx. 10 g) daily were found to have higher cognitive abilities. In addition, the frequency of poor cognitive functions was reduced by 40%. 
• A team of scientists came to a similar conclusion in a study investigating Alzheimer's disease. Adults who did not consume peanuts or peanut products between the ages of 60 and 80 performed worse in cognitive tests that measured learning, memory, language skills, reaction and attention in 30-50% of cases. ³

Although study results for all age groups are not yet available, it has been shown that regular consumption of peanuts, peanut butter and peanut products can minimize possible cognitive impairment.

Because peanuts are packed with health-promoting ingredients, they support brain performance. Peanuts contain nutrients such as niacin, vitamin E, resveratrol and p-coumaric acid:

• A higher consumption of Niacin , found in peanuts, has been linked to slower cognitive decline and a 70% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease in adults over 65. ⁴
• Peanuts are considered a "good source" of Vitamin E , which has a positive effect on brain aging and thus delays the cognitive decline caused by Alzheimer's.5
• Resveratrol , a bioactive ingredient in peanuts, is said to help fight neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.6
• Peanuts also contain P-coumaric acid , an antioxidant that may help regulate mood, stress and anxiety. ⁷

In addition, our boiled peanuts retain their skin, which, in addition to the extra fiber, has a positive effect on digestion as well as a positive effect on the brain. A randomized, controlled study from 2016 found that peanuts eaten with their shells are responsible for improved cerebrovascular and cognitive function in men and women. ⁸

Two separate studies from 2015 that examined the effectiveness of the MIND diet, a combination of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, came to a similar conclusion. They concluded that the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease was reduced by 53%. ⁹

1. Parilli-Moser, I., et al., Consumption of peanut products improves memory and stress response in healthy adults from the ARISTOTLE study: A 6-month randomized controlled trial. Journal of Nutrition, 2021. Link.
2. Li, M., Shi, Z. A prospective association of nut consumption with cognitive function in Chinese adults aged 55+ _China Health and Nutrition Survey. J Nutr Health Aging , 2019. Link .
3. Katzman, EW, Nielsen, SJ The association between peanut and peanut butter consumption and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults. J Prev Alzheimers Dis, 2021. Link.
4. Morris MC, Evans DA, Bienias JL, Scherr PA, Tangney CC, Hebert LE, Bennett DA, Wilson RS, Aggarwal N. Dietary niacin and the risk of incident Alzheimer's disease and of cognitive decline, 2004. Link.
5. La Fata G, Weber P, Mohajeri MH. Effects of vitamin E on cognitive performance during ageing and in Alzheimer's disease. Nutrients, 2014.  Link.
6. Chen J, Zhou Y, Mueller-Steiner S, Chen LF, Kwon H, Yi S, Mucke L, Gan L. SIRT1 protects against microglia-dependent amyloid-beta toxicity through inhibiting NF-kappaB signaling. J Biol Chem, 2005. Link.
7. Scheepens A, Bisson JF, Skinner M. p-Coumaric acid activates the GABA-A receptor in vitro and is orally anxiolytic in vivo, 2013. Link.
8. Barbour JA, Howe PRC, Buckley JD, Bryan J, Coates AM. Cerebrovascular and cognitive benefits of high-oleic peanut consumption in healthy overweight middle-aged adults, 2016. Link.
9. Morris MC, Tangney CC, Wang Y, Sacks FM, Bennett DA, Aggarwal NT. MIND diet associated with reduced incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's Dementia, 2015. Link.

• Picture: Markus Spiske on Unsplash