Your brain and gut are talking …with olive oil helping the conversation.

Is your olive oil helping feed your brain?

The connection between the gut and the brain has become one of the most exciting areas of nutrition research. Now, a newly published study suggests that olive oil may help support healthy brain function through its positive effects on the gut microbiome. (1)

Researchers followed 656 adults aged 55–75 over a two-year period, examining their olive oil consumption, analysing their gut bacteria and measuring changes in cognitive performance. What they discovered was particularly interesting: participants who consumed more virgin olive oil showed better preservation of cognitive function and had a more diverse gut microbiome compared with those consuming lower amounts. 

Side note - the research used virgin olive oil to benchmark against the next grade down - common refined olive oil. Obviously extra virgin olive oil is a grade up again from virgin olive oil - especially when it really is extra virgin olive oil as evidenced by correct certification, the rationale behind Olivver).

So the researchers found that virgin olive oil was associated with healthier gut bacteria and better cognitive outcomes, whereas greater consumption of common refined olive oil was associated with lower microbial diversity and greater cognitive decline. The researchers believe this difference is likely due to the naturally occurring polyphenols and other bioactive compounds that are more abundant in virgin olive oil (and even more abundant again in EVOO) but are largely removed during the refining process used to produce common olive oil.

The study also identified a specific group of gut bacteria that appeared to partly explain the relationship between virgin olive oil and cognitive health, adding another piece to the growing understanding of the gut–brain axis, the complex communication network between our digestive system and our brain.

While this research doesn't prove that virgin olive oil prevents cognitive decline, it adds to an already substantial body of evidence supporting the role of high-quality extra virgin olive oil as part of a healthy diet.

At Olivver, we focus exclusively on certified premium extra virgin olive oils because quality matters. Extra virgin olive oil isn't simply olive oil with a better flavour, it's a fresh food that naturally retains the polyphenols and antioxidants increasingly being linked with many of olive oil's health benefits.

As scientists continue to uncover the remarkable relationship between the gut, the brain and nutrition, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: choosing a genuine, high-quality extra virgin olive oil may be one of the simplest and most delicious ways to support your long-term health.

1. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40168-025-02306-4