New evidence highlights the importance of diet in adolescent brain health, a key life stage in which cognition is influenced not only by nutritional factors but also by lifestyle habits and psychological wellbeing. Two studies conducted by the Southern Catalonia Biomedical Research Institute – IRBCatSud (formerly IISPV), in collaboration with the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) —a centre supported by the “la Caixa” Foundation— and published in the journal Nutrients, explore how the Mediterranean diet and blood fatty acids are associated with different cognitive functions in adolescents from Catalonia. Nearly 630 young people took part in both studies.
The study The Association Between the Mediterranean Diet and Fatty Acids in Red Blood Cells of Spanish Adolescents examines the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet -based on fruit, vegetables, legumes, olive oil, nuts and fish- and the types of fats found in adolescents’ blood, which are an objective indicator of dietary habits. The results show that following this diet helps the body absorb essential nutrients needed for balance and proper brain function. From a biological perspective, because the diet is rich in omega‑3 fatty acids, it contributes to neuronal balance and helps prevent oxidative damage. According to the NeuroÈpia research group at IRB CatSud, this type of diet may support a healthier fat composition from early stages of life.
Omega‑3 linked to better cognitive function
A second study, entitled Red Blood Cell Fatty Acid Patterns and Cognitive Functions in Adolescents, focuses on the relationship between blood fats and different cognitive abilities, such as reasoning, memory and decision‑making. The results show that adolescents with higher omega‑3 levels achieve better results in reasoning tasks and in some aspects of decision‑making. These abilities, which develop rapidly during adolescence, are essential for cognitive functioning and can be influenced by both biological factors and lifestyle. The findings support the idea that omega‑3 fatty acids -mainly found in oily fish, nuts and some vegetable oils- may play an important role in cognitive development during this stage of life.
Emotional wellbeing, lifestyle and cognitive function
Beyond nutrition, brain development during adolescence is also influenced by psychological wellbeing and lifestyle habits. A third IRB CatSud‑ISGlobal study published in Frontiers in Psychology –Exploring the interplay of neuropsychological functions, psychological wellbeing, and lifestyle through principal component analysis: a comprehensive study– reports that lower emotional wellbeing and alcohol or tobacco use are associated with more ADHD symptoms, while physical activity is positively linked to executive functions related to decision‑making and emotional regulation. This study included a sample of 523 adolescents from Catalonia.
According to the study author, Nicolas Ayala‑Aldana, and the principal investigator of the NeuroÈpia group, Jordi Julvez, these findings highlight the importance of promoting healthy dietary habits and lifestyles during adolescence in order to support cognitive development. Although these are observational studies, the results provide useful evidence for designing health promotion strategies that combine nutrition with other key lifestyle factors.
References
Ayala-Aldana N, Pinar-Martí A, Ruiz-Rivera M, Lázaro I, Sala-Vila A, Healy DR, Contreras-Rodriguez O, Casanova J, Sola-Valls N, Vrijheid M, Julvez J. Red Blood Cell Fatty Acid Patterns and Cognitive Functions in Adolescents: A Pooled Analyses with Two Cohort Study Data Sets. Nutrients. 2025 Nov 5;17(21):3483. doi: 10.3390/nu17213483. PMID: 41228554; PMCID: PMC12609364.
Ayala-Aldana N, Lafuente D, Lázaro I, Pinar-Martí A, Manidis A, Bernardo-Castro S, Fernandez-Barres S, Healy DR, Vrijheid M, Contreras-Rodríguez O, Sala-Vila A, Julvez J. The Association Between the Mediterranean Diet and Fatty Acids in Red Blood Cells of Spanish Adolescents. Nutrients. 2025 Sep 6;17(17):2888. doi: 10.3390/nu17172888. PMID: 40944276; PMCID: PMC12430225.
Ayala-Aldana, N., Ruiz-Rivera, M., Pinar-Martí, A., López-Vicente, M., Contreras-Rodríguez, O., & Julvez, J. (2025). Exploring the interplay of neuropsychological functions, psychological wellbeing, and lifestyle through principal component analysis: a comprehensive study. Frontiers in psychology, 16, 1692251. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1692251. PMID: 41488935; PMCID: PMC12756113.
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