Walnuts: A Brain Boost for Teens

A team of researchers from Spain examined the effects of regular walnut consumption during adolescence. This study was led by the Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV) in collaboration with ISGlobal (a center promoted by the 'la Caixa' Foundation) and the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM).

The study's results indicated that regular consumption not only supports brain development in young people and teenagers but also has psychological benefits.

"Adolescence is a time of significant biological changes: there is hormonal transformation, which is responsible for stimulating synaptic growth in the frontal lobe. This part of our brain allows for neuropsychological maturation, meaning more complex emotional and cognitive functions. Neurons well-fed with this type of fatty acid can grow and form new, stronger synapses," explained Jordi Julvez, lead researcher and coordinator of the NeuroÈpia research group at IISPV.

The study included 700 high school students in Barcelona, aged 11-16, from 12 different schools. Participants were divided into two random groups: a control group that received nothing, and a test group whose members were given bags containing 30 grams of walnuts to consume daily for six months.

"Significant Improvements in Cognitive Abilities"

According to the study authors, teenagers who consumed walnuts for at least 100 days showed improvement in attention functions. Moreover, those who exhibited certain symptoms of ADHD displayed notable improvement – their behavior was less hyperactive.

Julvez stated: "No significant differences were found in the intervention group compared to the control group. However, when considering adherence to the protocol, positive results were observed, as participants who strictly followed the guidelines in terms of the recommended walnut dose and number of consumption days indeed showed improvements in the neuropsychological functions evaluated."

Ultimately, this research shows that maintaining a consistent and healthy diet has critical implications for teenagers during a crucial stage of brain, cognitive, and psychological development.

"If boys and girls listened to these recommendations and actually ate a handful of walnuts a day, or at least three times a week, they would notice many significant improvements in cognitive abilities, which will help them cope with the challenges of adolescence and the transition to adulthood," explains Ariadna Pinar, the first author of the article, "Adolescence is a period of significant brain development and complex behaviors that require substantial energy and nutrients."

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