The Study
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Enhances the Blood–Brain Barrier Function in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study is like a test where people were randomly put into two groups: one got a special olive oil with extra healthy ingredients, the other got a similar oil without those ingredients. They checked their brain scans and memory tests before and after. Because it's a random test, we can be fairly sure that any differences between the groups are because of the oil. But the study was small, so we can't be completely sure. We learned that the special oil might help with the brain's blood vessel barrier, but we can't say for sure it makes memory better.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
This study looked at whether daily olive oil for 6 months could help people with mild memory problems. They tried two types: one extra virgin with lots of natural plant chemicals, and one refined without them. They measured brain health using MRI scans and memory tests. Results: Only the extra virgin olive oil improved the barrier around the brain and made brain areas talk better to each other. Both oils improved memory test scores and reduced some proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease. But the study was small, so more research is needed.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 580 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1The improvements seen might be modest but significant for people with mild cognitive impairment, suggesting that simple diet changes could help brain health.
- 2But because the study was small and short, we can't be sure these benefits will last or apply to everyone.
- 325 people with mild cognitive impairment took either 30 mL of extra-virgin olive oil or refined olive oil daily for 6 months.
- 4The extra-virgin group had better brain scans showing less leaking in the brain's protective barrier and better communication between brain regions.
- 5Both groups scored better on memory tests and had lower levels of Alzheimer's-related proteins in their blood.
- 6No one gained weight.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Nutrients
Year
2022
Authors
A. Kaddoumi, T. Denney, G. Deshpande, J.L. Robinson, R. Beyers, D. Redden, D. Praticò, T. Kyriakides, Bonian Lu, Anna N. Kirby, Darren T. Beck, Nancy D. Merner
Related Content
Claims (10)
Drinking a small amount of refined olive oil every day for six months makes parts of the brain used for thinking and memory work harder when people with mild memory problems do a memory exercise. This effect is the same as with extra-virgin olive oil, so one type isn't better than the other.
Eating a small amount of extra-virgin olive oil every day for six months makes the brain's protective filter (the blood-brain barrier) stronger in adults with mild cognitive impairment. A stronger filter means fewer harmful substances can get into the brain, which helps keep memory and thinking from getting worse.
Eating either extra-virgin or regular olive oil (about 2 tablespoons a day) for 6 months lowers a blood marker called the amyloid-beta 42/40 ratio in adults with mild memory problems. This marker is linked to Alzheimer's plaques, and the reduction shows that olive oil affects how the brain handles and removes this protein.
People with mild memory problems who eat about two tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil every day for six months get better scores on memory tests, like remembering stories right away and later. But people who eat regular olive oil also get the same benefit, so the extra-virgin kind isn't uniquely better for memory.
Extra-virgin olive oil (the good quality kind) helps keep the brain's protective shield strong and helps different parts of the brain communicate better. Refined olive oil (the more processed kind) does not have these benefits.
Olive oil helps the different parts of your brain communicate better with each other.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.