Research conducted by scientists at Rovira i Virgili University in Spain adds to the growing evidence that regular hazelnut consumption can be linked to better cognitive health in older adults. The findings, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, come from a large observational study that tracked nutrition and cognitive performance over time, offering a thoughtful look at how everyday food choices may relate to mental sharpness as people age.
In this study, more than 6,000 older adults considered at risk for cognitive decline were invited to participate. Each participant completed a detailed food frequency questionnaire that captured how often different foods were eaten. Hazelnuts were grouped into four consumption levels: less than one serving per week, one to two servings per week, three to six servings per week, and seven or more servings per week. Cognitive performance was assessed at the start of the study and again after a two-year interval using standardized tests administered by trained personnel.
The results indicated a meaningful association between higher hazelnut intake and better cognitive function. Those in the highest consumption category tended to show greater cognitive performance than those who ate less hazelnuts, and they also tended to report healthier overall lifestyles. Specifically, higher nut consumers were more likely to have a balanced diet, higher activity levels, and lower rates of smoking. They also showed fewer symptoms related to depression and tended to maintain healthier body weights compared with participants who ate fewer nuts.
Within the study, participants who consumed three to six servings of hazelnuts per week demonstrated noticeably improved cognitive performance relative to those who ate less than one serving per week during the study period. This pattern remained evident after adjusting for other lifestyle and health factors, suggesting that hazelnut consumption may play a role in supporting cognitive resilience among older adults at risk of decline.
A spokesperson for the research emphasized that while the data are encouraging, they do not establish a cause-and-effect relationship. The researchers stressed the need for additional studies to confirm these findings and to determine how hazelnuts could fit into broader dietary guidelines for aging populations. The team suggested that hazelnuts might contribute to cognitive health through a combination of nutrients they contain, including healthy fats, vitamin E, minerals, and bioactive compounds, all working together to support brain function over time.
Overall, the study offers a compelling glimpse into how a simple dietary habit could align with other healthy behaviors to support mental performance in later life. While more research is necessary before making formal nutritional recommendations, these findings contribute to a growing discussion about the role of nuts in promoting brain health and the potential for everyday foods to influence cognitive trajectories in aging populations. The authors noted that future work should explore the mechanisms behind hazelnut-related cognitive benefits and examine whether similar patterns appear in diverse populations across different regions.