Studies have found that a high-fat diet can lead to behavioral changes and damage brain health

High fat diets are known to increase the risk of medical problems, including heart disease and stroke, but scientists have been concerned that such diets may also increase the risk of depression and other mental disorders, the Science Daily reported A new study, published in the journal biopsychology, suggests that a high-fat diet can lead to health and behavioral changes, mainly by altering the bacterial mix in the gut, the gut microbiota   The human microbial community contains trillions of microorganisms, many of which are located in the gut These microorganisms are essential for normal physiological functions However, studies have shown that changes in microbial populations may highlight the vulnerability of hosts to disease, including neuropsychological damage   This led researchers at Louisiana State University to want to test whether the obesity related microbiota could change the behavior and cognition of the host without obesity In the experiment, non obese adult mice maintained a normal diet, but received visceral microflora transplantation from donor mice, which had been on a high-fat diet or a controlled diet The researchers then evaluated the behavior and cognition of the recipient mice   Mice receiving a high-fat diet donated to a microbial community showed multiple behavioral disturbances, including increased anxiety, memory impairment, and repetitive behavior In addition, their bodies have been adversely affected, including increased intestinal permeability and inflammatory markers There are also clear signs of inflammation in the brain, many or possibly leading to behavioral changes in mice   "This article shows that a high-fat diet can damage brain health, in part by disrupting the symbiotic relationship between humans and microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract." John Krystal, editor of biopsychology, commented   Indeed, these findings provide evidence that diet induced changes in gut microflora are enough to cause changes in brain function This is consistent with previous studies, which established a significant correlation between mental illness and gastrointestinal symptoms However, little is known about the mechanism by which visceral microflora influence behavior   Although more research is needed, the current findings have suggested that visceral microorganisms have the potential to become targets for the treatment of neurological disorders.