In 2022, a six-year cohort study into the impact of nuts on the cognitive function of elderly adults found that those who consumed over 70g of nuts per week had a 17% lower risk of developing cognitive impairment compared to those who didn’t eat nuts or ate them on a less-than-weekly basis.

And later that same year, another study into the impact of mixed tree nut consumption in 79 non-elderly adults found that, after just four weeks of consuming 30g of nuts a day, participants experienced a positive effect on their cognition, as well as an ‘upregulation’ of the microbial groups associated with good gut health.

More research is of course needed to understand exactly how these benefits are produced, but these studies indicate that adding more nuts to our diets could help to maintain our brain health – something that’s important for preventing cognitive decline as we age.

It’s a reminder of how simple making positive changes to your diet can be. So, next time you’re making a bowl of porridge, why not toss a handful of almonds on top? Brain health aside, it’s a delicious way to make your breakfast more nutritious. And what’s not to love about that?

Why eating nuts could be the key to boosting your memory later in life