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Diet and the Developing Brain: A Systematic Review of Nutritional Influences on Adolescent Cognitive and Academic Outcomes

Hayley Young Orcid Logo, Chantelle Gaylor, Anthony Brennan Orcid Logo, Abigail McIntosh, Amy Griffiths

Advances in Nutrition, Start page: 100648

Swansea University Authors: Hayley Young Orcid Logo, Chantelle Gaylor, Anthony Brennan Orcid Logo, Abigail McIntosh, Amy Griffiths

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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.advnut.2026.100648

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical period of neurodevelopment, yet the role of nutrition in shaping cognitive and academic outcomes during this stage remains underexplored. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from 48 controlled trials and 25 prospective studies examining how diet influences cognitive...

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Published in: Advances in Nutrition
ISSN: 2161-8313 2156-5376
Published: Elsevier BV 2026
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa72159
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spelling v2 72159 2026-06-24 Diet and the Developing Brain: A Systematic Review of Nutritional Influences on Adolescent Cognitive and Academic Outcomes 22748f1a953255d63cb6ab9a98c11d70 0000-0002-6954-3519 Hayley Young Hayley Young true false ff9dac48eaa04419b8944895854ae5f0 Chantelle Gaylor Chantelle Gaylor true false c95545e4de40c0bef53dbfaf69fb19de 0000-0001-6084-4086 Anthony Brennan Anthony Brennan true false 2192090cc20a9acfa6df0311a23decce Abigail McIntosh Abigail McIntosh true false e360b00b12b720c52e38c94a539e6555 Amy Griffiths Amy Griffiths true false 2026-06-24 PSYS Adolescence is a critical period of neurodevelopment, yet the role of nutrition in shaping cognitive and academic outcomes during this stage remains underexplored. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from 48 controlled trials and 25 prospective studies examining how diet influences cognitive performance and educational attainment between ages 8 and 19. Four databases (PsycINFO, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science) were searched up to February 2026. Studies were synthesized by design, with risk of bias assessed using Cochrane and Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Prospective studies beginning in infancy—typically of higher methodological quality—suggest that unhealthy diets in the first 3 y of life may have lasting adverse effects on intelligence in adolescence. Controlled trials of dietary interventions during adolescence point to potential benefits for cognitive and academic outcomes, though findings vary and are often constrained by methodological limitations. To advance research in this field, we propose 7 guiding principles, including adopting a life course perspective, moving beyond nutrient isolation, using biologically valid biomarkers, incorporating puberty and sex-specific analyses, standardizing outcome measures, prioritizing context and population characteristics, and controlling for key confounders. These principles aim to strengthen the design, relevance, and impact of future studies in adolescent nutrition and brain health. This study was preregistered on PROSPERO as CRD42023413970. Journal Article Advances in Nutrition 0 100648 Elsevier BV 2161-8313 2156-5376 adolescence; diet; cognition; academic performance; infancy 7 5 2026 2026-05-07 10.1016/j.advnut.2026.100648 Review COLLEGE NANME Psychology School COLLEGE CODE PSYS Swansea University Other Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS) via grant IAFNS-SWANSEAU-20230111. 2026-06-24T14:49:48.4886495 2026-06-24T14:45:50.0240947 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Psychology Hayley Young 0000-0002-6954-3519 1 Chantelle Gaylor 2 Anthony Brennan 0000-0001-6084-4086 3 Abigail McIntosh 4 Amy Griffiths 5
title Diet and the Developing Brain: A Systematic Review of Nutritional Influences on Adolescent Cognitive and Academic Outcomes
spellingShingle Diet and the Developing Brain: A Systematic Review of Nutritional Influences on Adolescent Cognitive and Academic Outcomes
Hayley Young
Chantelle Gaylor
Anthony Brennan
Abigail McIntosh
Amy Griffiths
title_short Diet and the Developing Brain: A Systematic Review of Nutritional Influences on Adolescent Cognitive and Academic Outcomes
title_full Diet and the Developing Brain: A Systematic Review of Nutritional Influences on Adolescent Cognitive and Academic Outcomes
title_fullStr Diet and the Developing Brain: A Systematic Review of Nutritional Influences on Adolescent Cognitive and Academic Outcomes
title_full_unstemmed Diet and the Developing Brain: A Systematic Review of Nutritional Influences on Adolescent Cognitive and Academic Outcomes
title_sort Diet and the Developing Brain: A Systematic Review of Nutritional Influences on Adolescent Cognitive and Academic Outcomes
author_id_str_mv 22748f1a953255d63cb6ab9a98c11d70
ff9dac48eaa04419b8944895854ae5f0
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author_id_fullname_str_mv 22748f1a953255d63cb6ab9a98c11d70_***_Hayley Young
ff9dac48eaa04419b8944895854ae5f0_***_Chantelle Gaylor
c95545e4de40c0bef53dbfaf69fb19de_***_Anthony Brennan
2192090cc20a9acfa6df0311a23decce_***_Abigail McIntosh
e360b00b12b720c52e38c94a539e6555_***_Amy Griffiths
author Hayley Young
Chantelle Gaylor
Anthony Brennan
Abigail McIntosh
Amy Griffiths
author2 Hayley Young
Chantelle Gaylor
Anthony Brennan
Abigail McIntosh
Amy Griffiths
format Journal article
container_title Advances in Nutrition
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container_start_page 100648
publishDate 2026
institution Swansea University
issn 2161-8313
2156-5376
doi_str_mv 10.1016/j.advnut.2026.100648
publisher Elsevier BV
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Psychology{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Psychology
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description Adolescence is a critical period of neurodevelopment, yet the role of nutrition in shaping cognitive and academic outcomes during this stage remains underexplored. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from 48 controlled trials and 25 prospective studies examining how diet influences cognitive performance and educational attainment between ages 8 and 19. Four databases (PsycINFO, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science) were searched up to February 2026. Studies were synthesized by design, with risk of bias assessed using Cochrane and Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Prospective studies beginning in infancy—typically of higher methodological quality—suggest that unhealthy diets in the first 3 y of life may have lasting adverse effects on intelligence in adolescence. Controlled trials of dietary interventions during adolescence point to potential benefits for cognitive and academic outcomes, though findings vary and are often constrained by methodological limitations. To advance research in this field, we propose 7 guiding principles, including adopting a life course perspective, moving beyond nutrient isolation, using biologically valid biomarkers, incorporating puberty and sex-specific analyses, standardizing outcome measures, prioritizing context and population characteristics, and controlling for key confounders. These principles aim to strengthen the design, relevance, and impact of future studies in adolescent nutrition and brain health. This study was preregistered on PROSPERO as CRD42023413970.
published_date 2026-05-07T14:49:50Z
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