Background: Cognitive health includes memory,attention, and decision making is increasingly global concern by rising rates of neurodegenerative disorders.Plant based foods such as nuts, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables,rich in antioxidants, healthy fats,and essential micronutrients, may reduce oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.However, their role in cognitive development among young adults remains underexplored.

Objectives: To assess dietary patterns of nuts, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables and examine their association with cognitive performance in young adults.

Materials and Methods: A cross sectional observational study was conducted among 160 young adults (18-25 years) in Pune, Maharashtra. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising personal and sociodemographic information,the Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic scale, a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), a 24-hour dietary recall,and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v.16.0, with Kendall’s tau b correlation to find out the associations. 

Results: Among 160 participants (50%Male, 50%Female), 114(71.2%) showed normal cognitive function and 46(28.8%) showed mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Almond consumption showed a significant positive association with cognitive performance (p=0.025). Among vegetables Cabbage (p=0.001), Cluster beans (p=0.020) and Fenugreek leaves (p=0.036) also demonstrated significant positive association. Cashews, pistachios and walnuts showed positive but statistically non-significant trends. 

Conclusion: The plant -based foods notably almonds, cabbage, cluster beans, and fenugreek leaves are significantly associated with better cognitive performance in young adults. These findings highlight the importance of dietary strategies during early adulthood.