Researchers at the University of South Australia believe an ingredient in oats could improve the brain power of seniors.

They are calling for healthy men and women over 60 to participate in a 24-week study.

Doctor Narelle Berry says they are not concerned with ordinary supermarket oats.

"We're talking about a wild oat extract, so it's a refined extract that's made from oats," she said.

"We believe, from our preliminary data, that it may actually help to improve concentration and attention, but there's also some evidence to suggest that we might be able to decrease stress responses."

"We're looking mainly for people who don't eat a lot of oats now, so we want people who are consuming less than a serve of oats a day - so less than a bowl of porridge a day, roughly."

It is advised that Seniors are also checked for Ceoliac Desease (and intolerance to gluten) which Oats are a source of.