In addition to gaining weight, high-fat foods could also have adverse effects on your brain. Published in the journal Metabolic Brain Disease on June 15, 2022, an international study led by UniSA neuroscientists shows thata diet that is too high in fat deteriorates cognitive abilities. Furthermore, they also discovered that if cognitive functions were affected, it could also lead to excessive weight gain.
Diet: cognitive abilities decrease if you eat too much fat
To reach these conclusions, the scientists divided mice into two separate groups. In the first, they followed a standard diet for 30 weeks while in the second, the mice had a high-fat diet. In addition, food intake, body weight and glucose levels were monitored at different intervals. The mice were also tested for glucose tolerance, insulin and cognitive dysfunction.
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Finally, the researchers noticed that cognitive abilities decreased in mice that ate a high-fat diet. They were also more anxious. In addition, a link has also been established with several diseases such as diabetes, depression and Alzheimer’s disease. “Through our research, we have shown that obesity and diabetes impair the central nervous system, which exacerbates psychiatric disorders and cognitive decline”, explains Professor Larisa Bobrovskaya.
Alzheimer’s disease: a high-fat diet increases the risk
On the other hand, the scientists noticed that the mice that were fed the high-fat diet gained more weight compared to those fed the standard diet. They also developed insulin resistance and started behaving abnormally..
To prove that high-fat foods impaired cognitive abilities, the researchers genetically modified certain mice which were therefore suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. As a result, when they were fed foods that were too fatty, scientists noticed a significant deterioration in their cognitive functions and pathological changes in the brain.
Obesity is likely to lead to cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease and other mental health disorders, warns Larisa Bobrovskaya.
“Our results underscore the importance of tackling the global obesity epidemic,” warns Larisa Bobrovskaya. “Obesity combined with age and diabetes is very likely tolead to cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease and other mental health disorders.” She adds that “obese people have an approximately 55% increased risk of developing depression. In addition, diabetes doubles this risk.”
For several years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been sounding the alarm: obesity has nearly tripled globally in comparison with 1975. A worrying figure when we know that being overweight can lead to many complications and diseases: diabetes, heart disease, cancer, early death… “Most of the world’s population lives in countries where overweight and obesity kill more people than being underweight”, deplores the WHO. According to estimates, there are 2.8 million obesity-related deaths each year worldwide.