[Nut consumption and cognitive function: a systematic review].

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Neuroscience
• Public Health

Background:

• Antioxidant-rich diets may aid dementia prevention and treatment.
• Nuts offer significant antioxidant and polyunsaturated fatty acid content, potentially supporting neurogenesis.
• Existing evidence suggests nuts positively impact chronic disease outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and summarize research on the effects of nut consumption on cognitive function in adults.
• To evaluate the quality and consistency of evidence from various study designs.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases.
• Inclusion of 19 articles: 7 cross-sectional, 4 prospective cohorts, and 8 experimental studies.
• Independent data extraction and review by two researchers.

Main Results:

• Evidence from cross-sectional and cohort studies was inconclusive due to result variability and bias.
• Most experimental studies indicated a protective effect of nut consumption on cognitive function.
• Observed benefits were consistent across different nut types, intake levels, ages, and baseline cognitive statuses.

Conclusions:

• Nut consumption may positively influence cognitive function in adults.
• Daily inclusion of nuts in a healthy diet pattern is suggested.
• Further high-quality longitudinal and experimental studies are required to strengthen the evidence base.