Myth-buster
A 6-month trial of one avocado a day found no memory improvement in 251 overweight adults — the null result held across all cognitive tests.
This well-designed but open-label trial challenges the popular notion that avocados are a brain food for memory, at least in overweight adults; the picture is now contested, and more blinded studies are needed to settle it.
Over six months, overweight adults who ate one avocado daily performed no better on memory tests than those who didn't. The study also found no effects on processing speed, working memory, or reaction time. Because the study was open-label, expectations could have influenced results, and the findings may not apply to normal-weight or younger people.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on avocado for Improved Memory Function — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- n = 251
- 2026-06
- The journal of nutrition, health & aging
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