Peanuts are a great delicacy that many people enjoy, but recent research has revealed that ingesting peanuts may provide greater benefits than just a powerful source of protein and fats. Recent research from researchers at Maastricht University Medical Center has revealed that eating peanuts may actually lead to improvements in brain memory, specifically in insulin responsiveness.
Taking a few steps back, how is insulin actually used in the brain? Although insulin is well known for regulating blood sugars, it plays a critical role as a neuroregulatory chemical through processes such as glucose entry, cognitive-related systems such as memory and learning, and feeding behaviors. Additionally, insulin is critical in simply maintaining nerve cell growth.
In fact, the development of insulin resistance as aging occurs is one of the driving factors behind diseases such as Alzheimer’s, type 2 diabetes, and a more extreme type of diabetes, dubbed “type 3,” specifically in relation to insulin resistance.
The researchers had 31 healthy participants eat 60 grams of roasted, unsalted peanuts daily over the course of 16 weeks. Researchers then compared these results to a control group and observed an increase in insulin responsiveness in the brain in the experimental group. Specifically, they noted that cerebral blood flow had increased by 3.6% and a 5.8% increased verbal memory performance.
In the words of Dr. Peter Joris, the study’s senior author and an associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, “the hormone insulin plays an important role in the brain, where it supports memory and other cognitive processes. As people age, the brain may become less responsive to insulin, which has been linked to age-related cognitive decline.”
Importantly, the research featured the use of arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-MRI), which measures blood flow at different sections of the brain, alongside a controlled dietary intervention and advanced brain imaging over those weeks. The ASL-MRI primarily aided in investigating changes in cerebral blood flow after the insulin was regulated through the nose.
The participants’ cognitive skills were assessed through the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) during this entire experiment.
What the researchers concluded was that multiple components of the peanuts may be responsible for the neurological improvements displayed, with Joris stating that “multiple nutrients present in peanuts, including unsaturated fats, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals and bioactive phytochemicals, could potentially contribute to the observed brain benefits.”
We can reasonably say that these experiments are a step in the right direction towards better understanding the brain and the chemical processes that govern its development.
