How deeply processed foods damage the memory of the aging brain

A new study found that eating highly processed foods for four consecutive weeks can cause a strong inflammatory response in the brain of aging rats, accompanied by behavioral signs of memory loss

The researchers also found that adding the omega-3 fatty acid DHA to the processed diet can prevent memory problems and almost completely reduce the inflammatory effects in elderly mice

Neuroinflammation and cognitive problems were not detected in young adult rats consuming processed foods

This dietary study simulated long-packaged human ready-to-eat foods such as potato chips and other snacks, frozen main dishes such as pasta and pizza, and cooked foods containing preservatives

Refined diets are also associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, suggesting that older consumers may want convenience foods and add DHA-rich foods, such as salmon, to their diets, the researchers said, especially considering the damage to the brains of the elderly In this study, it is obvious that there are only four weeks

"The fact that we saw these effects so soon is a bit worrying," said Ruth Barrientos, a researcher and associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral health at Ohio State University's Institute of Behavioral Medicine

"These findings indicate that the consumption of processed foods can cause severe and sudden memory deficits-and in the elderly, rapid memory decline is more likely to develop into neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease

The research was published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity

Barrientos' laboratory studies how events of daily life-such as surgery, infections or unhealthy diet-can trigger inflammation in the aging brain, with particular attention to the hippocampus and amygdala

DHA, also known as docosahexaenoic acid, is an omega-3 fatty acid, which is found in fish and other seafood together with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)

The research team randomly assigned 3-month-old and 24-month-old male rats to normal food (32% of calories come from protein, 54% from wheat-based complex carbohydrates, and 14% from fat), a highly processed diet (19.

The activated gene was significantly elevated in the hippocampus and amygdala of aged rats with a powerful pro-inflammatory protein and other inflammatory markers.

In behavioral experiments, old rats eating processed food also showed signs of memory loss, while young rats did not

"The human amygdala is associated with emotion-related memories—events that produce fear and anxiety

The results of the study also showed that supplementing DHA in processed foods consumed by elderly rats effectively prevented the increase in brain inflammation and behavioral signs of memory loss

Researchers do not know the exact dose of DHA in these animals, nor do they know the exact calories and nutrients they consume

This is a key finding: Barrientos warned that the results of the study should not be interpreted as permitting consumers to eat processed foods as long as they take DHA supplements
.
She said that a better way to prevent the multiple negative effects of highly refined foods is to focus on improving the overall diet
.

"These diets are advertised as low-fat, but they are highly processed
.
They contain no fiber and only contain refined carbohydrates.
They are also called low-quality carbohydrates
.
" "People who are used to reading nutritional information need to pay attention to the fiber of carbohydrates.
And quality
.
This research really shows that these things are important
.
"

DOI

10.
1016 / j.
bbi.
2021.
08.
214

Article title

Dietary DHA prevents cognitive impairment and inflammatory gene expression in aged male rats fed a diet enriched with refined carbohydrates