Extra virgin olive oil is a fundamental pillar of the Mediterranean diet and is well known for supporting heart and metabolic health. Scientists have long recognized these benefits, but its potential influence on the brain through the digestive system has received far less attention.

New research led by scientists from the Human Nutrition Unit at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), the Pere Virgili Health Research Institute (IISPV), and CIBERobn suggests that extra virgin olive oil may help protect cognitive function by shaping the gut microbiota.

Improved cognitive function and more diverse microbiota
The findings showed that participants who regularly consumed virgin olive oil instead of refined olive oil experienced improvements in cognitive performance. These individuals also had greater diversity in their gut microbiota, which is considered an important indicator of digestive and metabolic health.

By comparison, people who consumed refined olive oil tended to show a decline in microbiota diversity over time.