Unexpected nutrition harms memory: A look at new studies

Unexpected nutrition harms memory: A look at new studies

d he increasing popularity of fast food in society has not only effects on physical health, but also on cognitive skills, especially in children and adolescents. This was impressively demonstrated by a study at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, in which 110 students participated in memory tests after they were provided with high -caloric food for eight days. The results of the study raise alarming questions about the influence of our diet on learning and memory formation.

eating habits and memory performance

In the study, the students, who otherwise "rather fed", received high -calorie foods that were overloaded with fat and sugar.

At the end of the experiment, the study participants performed significantly worse than the control group, which had no such diet during this time. The participants only remembered 92 percent of the information, compared to 97 percent before the calorie -rich food.

a worrying trend

The result indicates that the consumption of fast food not only has short -term effects on physical health, but can also cause long -term damage to cognitive skills. Studies show that an unhealthy nutrition in the early development of children may lead to permanent impairments. This is particularly worrying at a time when obesity and attention disorders such as the "Zappelphilipp syndrome" increase. Between 2006 and 2014 alone, the diagnosis frequency of this disorder in Germany has more than doubled.

The role of the microbiome and the nervous system

research results suggest that the poorer microbiota in the intestine, which is caused by processed foods, could also lead to memory problems. Scott Kanoski, a neuroendocrinologist, identified the nervous system related to it as another member in the chain. The vagus nerve, which connects the brain and the intestine, plays a crucial role in memory.

If this is damaged, even rats can no longer remember the known and their learning ability drops. Studies show that eating junk food during critical development phases can lead to a permanent loss of cognitive skills. It is particularly worrying that in rats that consumed junk food in their childhood, a significant reduction in neurotransmitter acetylcholin - which is important for memory and learning - was found.

Scientific implications and need for action

The knowledge of these and similar studies could have far -reaching consequences for nutritional advice and public health. Above all, the connection between fast food consumption and learning difficulties is a growing problem that requires more attention from the population. It is all the more important to slow down the negative development before it becomes even more serious in the next generation.

In addition to the known health risks through unhealthy nutrition, it becomes clear that the intellectual development of our children is also at risk. Further studies are necessary to examine the relationship between nutrition, memory and the occurrence of disorders such as ADHD more comprehensively and to develop preventive measures.

- Nag