The effects of peanut consumption on cognitive function and emotional symptoms
Date
2022
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Treatments for preventing or slowing cognitive decline in late adulthood is an active area of research. Loss of cognitive function that interferes with everyday abilities such as learning, remembering, and exercising judgement is not a normality of aging. The lack of current therapies and treatments are leading to a surge of older individuals struggling with cognitive decline and other related dementias. Research is trending towards investigating the role of nutrition in the causation and prevention of age-related cognitive decline. Peanuts are nutrient dense foods, rich in unsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, vitamins, and bioactive compounds all of which are thought to have anti-inflammatory properties which positively impact endothelial function, blood vessel health, and cognitive function. The present study examined the effects of peanut supplementation on cognitive function and emotional symptoms such as anxiety and depression. In this ongoing randomized controlled trial, 33 males and females, 60-80 years old, were recruited. Qualified participants consumed 2 oz of peanuts daily (peanut group) or no peanuts/tree nuts (control group) for 12 weeks. Cognitive function, and anxiety and depression were measured using validated self-reported assessments and questionnaires. The preliminary data showed evidence that there was a significant time effect (p<0.001) after the 12-week intervention. Perception of everyday memory strategies increased by 40% in the peanut group (p=.006) and 26% in the control group (p<.001). On the visual sustained attention task as outcome measure of RVP A’ scores, there was a significant time effect (p=0.003). The within-group analysis showed that although RVP A’ scores increased in both groups, the increases were only statistically significant in the control group (p=0.003) compared with corresponding baseline values. On the visual sustained attention task as outcome measure of total hits of correct target (RVPTH), there was a significant time effect (p=0.003). The within group analysis showed that the RVPTH scores (p=0.003) increased in the control group compared with corresponding baseline values. Emotional status was not affected by the 12-week intervention. The preliminary findings indicate that peanut supplementation does not influence emotional status, or digit span scores in older adults with no existing decline in cognition and emotional status. Participants in the peanut group had higher subjective memory strategy scores compared to participants in the control group. There was a modest effect on RVP task in both groups. The ongoing nature of this study warrants a larger sample size to confirm these findings.
Description
Keywords
Cognitive function, Emotional symptoms, Older adults, Peanut supplementation