Despite being seen as a superfood, consuming avocado alone does not appear to improve cognitive abilities.
Eat an avocado a day for six months does not significantly improve memory, processing speed or other cognitive abilities in adults with excess abdominal fat.
The research, in The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, examined whether adding avocados to the diet could help preserve cognitive performance in adults at increased risk of metabolic and neurological decline.
Avocados have attracted special attention for are rich in monounsaturated fats, fibers and carotenoids, such as lutein and zeaxanthin. These compounds have been linked to improved eye and brain function.
The new study sought to test these theories under controlled conditions. The researchers recruited 251 adults between 25 and 84 years old with high waist circumference, a condition associated with metabolic risks related to obesity and greater chances of cognitive decline in old age. Participants generally consumed very little avocado before joining the study, says the .
The volunteers were randomly divided into two groups. One group was instructed to eat one fresh Hass avocado a day for six months without changing their usual diet, while the control group maintained their normal eating habits and avoided avocados almost completely.
To ensure adherence, nutritionists carried out surprise dietary assessments throughout the study period. According to the researchers, the participants strictly followed the dietary instructions.
Scientists assessed cognitive performance at the beginning and end of the study using an extensive series of tests that measure memoryreaction time, processing speed, executive function and working memory.
After six months, the results showed no cognitive differences statistically significant differences between the avocado group and the control group. Both groups showed small improvements on some reaction time tasks, but investigators attributed this primarily to participants’ greater familiarity with the testing procedures.
The results suggest that the simple adding a single “superfood” to a diet that otherwise remains unchanged may not be sufficient to generate significant improvements in brain function, particularly in individuals with obesity-related metabolic changes.
The researchers believe that several factors can explain this result. Obesity can alter the way the body processes healthy fats and nutrients, potentially reducing their neurological impact. Additionally, the concentration of beneficial carotenoids in an avocado may be much lower than the doses used in previous supplement studies that reported cognitive benefits.
