Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
0 comments 
Study published by ScienceDaily in 2026 links regular extra virgin olive oil consumption to improved cognitive performance and a more diverse gut microbiome, reinforcing the gut-brain connection.
For decades, extra virgin olive oil has been primarily treated as a symbol of the Mediterranean diet and an ingredient associated with healthy eating. But research published in April 2026 suggests it may have a much deeper role in the body — including possible effects on the brain.
The study, published on April 18, 2026, by ScienceDaily and conducted by researchers from Universitat Rovira i Virgili, in Spain, followed adults for two years and found a surprising association: participants who regularly consumed extra virgin olive oil showed better cognitive performance and a more diverse gut microbiome compared to those who consumed refined olive oil.
The discovery drew attention because the mechanism identified by scientists does not start directly in the brain. According to the researchers, the effects seem to first pass through the so-called gut-brain axis, a biological communication system that connects gut bacteria to brain function. In practice, this means that part of mental and cognitive health may be influenced by microorganisms living in the gut.
-
Xiaomi has just launched a robot vacuum cleaner so powerful that it has retractable arms capable of extending beyond its own body to clean baseboards and corners where no other model can reach. The base washes and dries the mops by itself, and the tank stores dirt for 75 days.
-
Black+Decker aims for the end of the traditional iron with the 1400-watt VacuSteam steamer, which combines suction, steam, and a heated plate to remove wrinkles in a single pass and promises results up to 45% faster without an ironing board.
-
Scientists warn that the most abundant microorganism in the oceans may be reaching its limit with the warming of the sea, threatening 5% of Earth’s photosynthesis, the base of the marine food chain, and a domino effect that could impact the planet’s oxygen and climate balance.
-
Earth does not always orbit around the Sun because planets like Jupiter shift the Solar System’s barycenter outside the star, and when the gas giants align, the point around which everything orbits truly changes.
The study followed hundreds of people for two years
The research analyzed 656 adults between 55 and 75 years old, all with metabolic risk factors such as obesity, overweight, or metabolic syndrome — conditions frequently associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline throughout aging.
For two years, scientists monitored participants’ eating habits, the type of olive oil consumed, the composition of their gut microbiota, and their cognitive performance. Volunteers underwent tests related to memory, language, attention, reasoning speed, and executive function. The results showed important differences between the analyzed groups.
Extra virgin olive oil had different results from refined olive oil
Participants who regularly consumed extra virgin olive oil showed better cognitive preservation, greater diversity of gut bacteria, and superior performance in mental tests.
Those who predominantly used refined olive oil, however, had inferior cognitive evolution and a less diverse microbiome. For scientists, the difference may lie in the bioactive compounds present in extra virgin olive oil and practically absent in refined olive oil.
The gut can directly influence the brain
The most important part of the discovery involves the so-called gut-brain axis. In recent years, scientists have been accumulating evidence that the gut does not only act in digestion. It also directly influences inflammation in the body, neurotransmitter production, immune response, and brain metabolism.
The gut hosts trillions of bacteria that form the so-called gut microbiome. These microorganisms produce chemical substances capable of interacting with the nervous system and sending signals to the brain. According to Spanish researchers, extra virgin olive oil seems to positively modify this bacterial ecosystem — and this change ultimately reflects in cognition.
The difference between extra virgin and refined lies in natural compounds
Although many people see all types of olive oil as practically the same, the study highlights that there are important differences between them. Extra virgin olive oil undergoes minimal processing and preserves natural compounds called polyphenols. These substances have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties.
Among the most studied compounds are hydroxytyrosol, oleocanthal, and oleuropein. Refined olive oil, on the other hand, undergoes industrial processes that remove a good part of these natural components. According to scientists, this may explain why the effects observed in the microbiome and brain were different between the analyzed groups.
A specific bacterium caught researchers’ attention
During the analysis of the gut microbiota, scientists identified a bacterium that may be directly related to the observed cognitive effects. The bacterial genus Adlercreutzia appeared associated with the consumption of extra virgin olive oil and an improvement in some mental tests.
Although researchers do not yet know exactly how this mechanism works, the hypothesis is that certain gut bacteria may help produce compounds that influence the brain. This is one of the most promising areas of current neuroscience.
The brain may be protected even before aging
Scientists believe that compounds in extra virgin olive oil help reduce silent inflammation in the body, combat oxidative stress, and improve intestinal bacterial balance. All of this can create a more favorable biological environment to preserve cognitive functions during aging. The discovery reinforces an idea that has been gaining strength in recent years: that many processes linked to the brain may begin in the gut.
For decades, foods were evaluated primarily for their basic nutritional value — calories, proteins, fats, and vitamins. But recent research shows that certain foods can interact directly with gut bacteria, inflammation, brain metabolism, and cellular aging. Extra virgin olive oil now definitively enters this group of foods studied for possible effects on the brain.
The study is not yet definitive proof
The authors themselves emphasize that the research does not prove that olive oil alone is responsible for the observed results. Other factors can also influence cognitive performance, including overall diet quality, physical activity, sleep, and metabolic health.
Nevertheless, the study caught the attention of the scientific community because it reinforces growing evidence about the gut-brain connection. And it suggests that something seemingly simple — like the type of olive oil used daily in the diet — can influence much more than previously imagined.
Be the first to react!