A Spanish study of 42 healthy adults found that consuming approximately two tablespoons of tomato paste daily for three months resulted in modest improvements in concentration, processing speed and memory compared to a diet low in lycopene, the red antioxidant found in tomatoes. The findings are preliminary and the researchers emphasise that larger studies are needed, as the trial does not demonstrate that tomato paste prevents cognitive decline or disease.

The participants, aged 40 to 55, consumed about 35 grams of tomato paste daily during the intervention phase and were compared to their own baseline when eating a low-lycopene diet. Scores improved by an average of 7.2 points for concentration, 8.3 points for processing speed and 0.8 points on an associative memory test. Blood tests showed a borderline increase in BDNF, a protein involved in brain-cell growth, and brain scans in a small subset revealed changes in resting connectivity, though researchers cautioned that these findings do not prove a meaningful cognitive benefit.