(P27-008-23) Effect of Peanut Intake on Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Self-Reported Memory Complaints

Objectives: Frequent tree nut and peanut intake may have benefits for cognitive health. Our objective was to examine the effect of peanut consumption on cognitive performance in elderly overweight participants with cardiovascular risk factors and self-reported memory complaints.

Methods: We conducted a 12-week, randomized, controlled study to explore the effects of eating 42-56 g/d of peanuts (PG) in comparison to a habitual diet free of peanuts (CG) on cognitive performance using a battery of neurocognitive tests on 28 elderly participants (15 men, mean ± SD for age 72.5 ±5.6 years). Participants otherwise ate their habitual diet. Those in the PG consumed a combination of peanuts and peanut butter with their skin intact. ANCOVA was performed to determine the difference between groups for the score change from baseline to end of study (means ± SD). Besides the global composite score, the following domains were analyzed – Memory, Verbal fluency, Speed, and Executive function.

Results: No significant differences were observed between the two groups for changes in global composite score (PG = 0.127 ± 0.30, CG = 0.162 ± 0.285) or for any of the four cognitive domain scores: memory (PG = 0.126 ± 0.426, CG = 0.157 ± 0.507), speed (PG = 0.044 ± 0.585, CG = 0.148 ± 0.507), verbal fluency (PG = 0.219 ± 0.589, CG = 0.175 ± 0.520), and executive function (PG = 0.205 ± 0.537, CG = 0.174 ± 0.516).

Conclusions: Preliminary analyses revealed no significant effect of eating peanuts for 12 weeks in global cognition, or in any specific cognitive domain, including memory, verbal fluency, speed, and executive function. Further analyses with careful consideration of additional confounders may provide a better understanding of the effects of peanuts on cognitive functions.

Funding Sources: The Peanut Institute