Research has found that long-term eating of walnuts and other nuts can improve some indicators related to brain function, which is not the same thing as the "brain-tonifying" function of walnuts that people expect. So far, there is no direct research evidence that eating walnuts can improve people's IQ in the short term.

Some foreign studies have shown that increasing the intake of nut foods, especially walnuts, can improve the cognitive abilities of middle-aged and elderly people. Higher nut consumption is associated with improved memory, cognitive flexibility, information processing speed, and overall cognitive function.

Another 3-year study showed that eating virgin olive oil + 30 grams of nuts (15 grams of walnuts, 7.5 grams of almonds, 7.5 grams of hazelnuts) every day was better than eating only virgin olive oil. People who are nut-free or eat a low-fat diet can continuously increase the concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in plasma, which has an effect on fighting depression and cognitive degradation caused by aging. From these aspects, adding some walnuts or walnut oil to the meal can indeed have beneficial effects on the body, which can indirectly promote healthy brain function.

Extended information:

The arginine content in walnut protein is particularly high, reaching 174 mg per gram of walnut protein, which is the highest among nut foods, including milk and fruits. 6 times the amount of protein. Arginine is a substance that is both nutritious and has a variety of unique physiological and pharmacological effects. One of its important physiological roles is as a raw material for the synthesis of endogenous nitric oxide in the human body, which plays a key role in the physiological and pathological regulation of cardiovascular, nervous, immune and other systems in the human body as a biological messenger.

Reference material: People's Daily Online - Expert answer: Can walnuts nourish the brain?