LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Texas Tech researchers are studying whether a daily snack of pecans could benefit brain health.
Pecans are rich in antioxidants and fiber.
Dr. Leslie Shen, Ph.D., professor of pathology at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, is leading the study.
“Food is medicine so in this study we are looking at how the pecans can improve or affect the brain health,” Shen said.
Study details
Shen and her team want to know if pecans can improve memory, mood and overall brain function in people already showing early signs of cognitive impairment.
The study is looking for 60 people who are at least 50 years old. Each participant will be randomly assigned either pecans or pretzels as a regular snack for three months.
Researchers at TTUHSC will look at how the two snacks influence gut bacteria, inflammation and other signals that connect the gut and the brain.
How to join
People interested in joining the pecan study at Texas Tech can contact the Clinical Research Institute at the university by phone at 806-543-8994 or by email at ClinicalResearch@ttuhsc.edu .
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