High-Fat Diets May Harm Memory Cells Within Days, Study Finds
AMERICA:( The COW News Digital)-A healthy brain relies on a nutritious diet to function properly — and experts say vegetables, fruits, fish, nuts, and seeds play a key role in improving memory. However, researchers warn that regularly consuming fried and greasy foods can harm not only the body but also the brain.
A recent study by a U.S. medical university found that eating a high-fat diet for just a few days can damage the brain cells responsible for memory formation. Foods such as burgers, French fries, and ice cream can negatively affect a group of cells known as CCK interneurons, located in the hippocampus — the part of the brain that creates and stores new memories.
The study, conducted on mice, revealed that even after only four days of eating a high-fat diet — before obesity had set in — the functioning of memory-related brain cells was disrupted.
Professor Juan Song, who led the research, said, “We already knew diet affects brain health, but it was surprising to see such a strong negative impact on memory after just a few days.”
Experts suggest that intermittent fasting may help counter these harmful effects. During fasting, the body switches from using sugar to stored fat as an energy source, helping memory-related brain cells rebalance and improve function.
Additionally, certain medications and herbal supplements may support recovery, though further studies are needed. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Neuron.
