Beetroot, Brain Blood Flow and Healthy Ageing
What research says about beet juice, blood flow to the brain and older adults — and what it can't yet tell us about memory or dementia.
Last updated October 9, 2026 • Reviewed by Dr. A. Reviewer, M.Sc. Nutrition • Based on peer-reviewed sources
Short answer: In older adults, a high-nitrate diet increased blood flow to brain areas involved in planning and attention.[Presley et al., 2011 11]
Key takeaways
- ✓In older adults, a high-nitrate diet increased blood flow to brain areas involved in planning and attention.[Presley et al., 2011 11]
- ✓Combining beet juice with exercise may benefit brain networks in older adults.[Petrie et al., 2017 25]
- ✓Memory and thinking test results are mixed, and dementia trials are lacking.[Clifford et al. 23; Kimble et al., 2025 26]
Blood flow to the brain
Nitric oxide widens blood vessels, and a nitrate-rich diet raised blood flow to frontal brain regions in older adults.[Presley et al., 2011 11; Lundberg et al., 2008 6]
Beet juice plus exercise
Older adults who drank beet juice before exercise showed brain-network patterns closer to those of younger adults.[Petrie et al., 2017 25]
Memory and dementia
Studies of memory and thinking show inconsistent results, and there are no adequate trials in people with dementia.[Clifford et al. 23; Kimble et al., 2025 26]
Educational information only — not medical advice. Talk to your clinician before changing your diet or medication.
Try it in a recipe
References5 peer-reviewed sourcesShow allHide
- 6.Lundberg JO, Weitzberg E, Gladwin MT. The nitrate–nitrite–nitric oxide pathway in physiology and therapeutics. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2008;7(2):156–167. View source
- 11.Presley TD, et al. Acute effect of a high nitrate diet on brain perfusion in older adults. Nitric Oxide. 2011;24(1):34–42. View source
- 23.Clifford T, et al. The effects of inorganic nitrate and nitrite on cognitive function and cerebral blood flow: systematic review and meta-analysis. View source
- 25.Petrie M, et al. Beet root juice: an ergogenic aid for exercise and the aging brain. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2017;72(9):1284–1289. View source
- 26.Kimble R, et al. Can beetroot support brain health? A perspective review on Alzheimer's disease. 2025. View source
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