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How Virgin Olive Oil Promotes Cognitive Health by Altering Gut Microbiota

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A large prospective cohort study has revealed that older adults consuming more virgin olive oil, a vital element of the Mediterranean diet, experience slower cognitive decline and enhanced gut microbiota diversity over two years. Conversely, higher consumption of common refined olive oil correlates with decreased microbial diversity and accelerated cognitive decline.

Extra virgin olive oil, a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, protects against cognitive decline. Image credit: Steve Buissinne.

Virgin olive oil is a key ingredient of the Mediterranean diet, packed with phenolic compounds known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.

While prior laboratory and animal research hinted at neuroprotective effects, human studies linking olive oil, gut microbiota, and cognitive function remain sparse.

This groundbreaking finding stems from participants in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea-Plus (PREDIMED-Plus) study, an extensive ongoing trial designed to explore how dietary and lifestyle changes influence cardiovascular and metabolic health.

“This is the first prospective human study analyzing the role of olive oil in the relationship between gut microbiota and cognitive function,” stated Dr. Giaki Ni, a researcher from Rovira i Virgili University.

Researchers monitored over 650 adults aged 55 to 75, who were overweight or obese and at high risk for cognitive decline, yet cognitively healthy at the study’s onset.

During a two-year period, they assessed participants’ olive oil intake, gut microbiome profiles, and performance on a comprehensive range of cognitive tests.

Increased consumption of virgin olive oil was linked to improved or sustained overall cognition, executive function, and language proficiency.

In stark contrast, high consumption of common refined olive oil appeared to diminish gut microbial diversity and accelerate cognitive decline.

“As cases of cognitive decline and dementia rise, our findings underscore the necessity of enhancing diet quality. Prioritizing extra virgin olive oil over refined options emerges as a simple yet effective strategy to safeguard brain health,” emphasized researchers Nancy Babio and Stéphanie Nisi from Rovira i Virgili University.

To uncover why virgin olive oil may positively impact cognitive function, scientists analyzed baseline stool samples.

Those who consumed higher amounts of virgin olive oil exhibited greater gut microbiota diversity and a more cohesive microbial community structure compared to those who consumed less.

Further analysis indicated that specific gut bacteria may elucidate the cognitive advantages. Changes in the prevalence of particular microbial species, such as adlerkreuzia, appeared to mediate the relationship between virgin olive oil intake and enhanced cognitive performance, reinforcing the concept that diet influences brain health via the gut-brain axis.

“This study highlights that the quality of fats we consume matters as much as their quantity,” remarked Dr. Jordi Salas Salvado, also from Rovira y Virgili University.

“Extra virgin olive oil not only benefits heart health but also plays a vital role in protecting brain function as we age.”

“The discovery that microbial profiles contribute to these benefits opens avenues for new nutrition-based prevention strategies to maintain cognitive function.”

Find out more in the study published in the journal Microbiome.

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J.nee et al. 2026. Changes in total and different types of olive oil intake, gut microbiota, and cognitive function in older adults. Microbiome 14, 68; doi: 10.1186/s40168-025-02306-4

Source: www.sci.news

How Dogs Can Enhance Our Consideration and Sociability by Altering Our Microbiome

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Fetch! Dogs can enhance our happiness in various ways

Monica Click/Shutterstock

Dogs have long been celebrated as beloved companions. However, recent studies suggest they may also improve our well-being by influencing our microbiomes. Experiments conducted on mice indicate that dog owners possess unique bacterial species that promote both empathic and social behaviors.

It’s evident that pets significantly enhance life satisfaction while also impacting our gut microbiome. Research highlights how this microbiome affects our mental health and plays a role in shaping our personalities. With dogs often topping the list of preferred pets, Takefumi Kikusui and his team from Azabu University in Japan sought to investigate whether pets influence our microbiomes and enhance our overall well-being.

To delve into this, researchers analyzed a survey where caregivers of 343 adolescents aged 12 to 14 in Tokyo reported on their social behaviors, including feelings of loneliness, tendencies toward aggression, and peer interactions. It was noted that approximately a third of these adolescents own pet dogs.

Findings revealed that, on average, dog owners perceived themselves as less socially withdrawn and exhibited less aggressive tendencies compared to their non-dog-owning peers. The research team also examined potential influencing factors such as gender and household income.

Saliva samples indicated that several types of streptococcus bacteria were more abundant among adolescents who owned dogs, which is associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms.


“Engaging frequently with your dog exposes you to their microorganisms (like licking),” explains Gerald Clarke from University College Cork, Dublin, Ireland. These bacteria can migrate to the gastrointestinal tract, potentially causing infections. They can also produce anti-inflammatory substances like short-chain fatty acids, which may improve mental health.

An essential part of the study involved transplanting oral microbes from dog owners and non-dog owners into germ-free mice. Fecal analysis showed that the introduced microorganisms successfully colonized the mice’s intestines.

In subsequent weeks, the researchers conducted various behavioral tests on the mice. In one test, a mouse was placed in a cage alongside another mouse trapped in a tube. Results indicated that mice transplanted with microbes from dog owners were significantly more inclined to interact with the tube than those who received microbes from non-dog owners.

This behavior suggests that the original mice displayed greater empathy and a willingness to help, Kikusui noted. Recent research has also revealed that mice can assist their pregnant partners in giving birth and even provide rudimentary first aid.

In another experiment, dog-owner transplants exhibited a tendency to sniff unknown mice in their cages more frequently than the other groups, indicating increased sociability, according to Clarke. “Such social behaviors can have implications across species, including humans,” he asserts. “Robust social networks are beneficial for mental health; having limited social exposure can be detrimental.”

Gaining further insights into these microbial shifts and developing probiotics that replicate these effects could potentially benefit individuals without dogs, Clarke suggests. However, studies in other regions with different microbial exposures are necessary.

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Source: www.newscientist.com