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Effects of a High Calorie Diet on Memory

Jul 18, 2011 | By Matthew Larson
Effects of a High Calorie Diet on Memory
Photo Credit Kim Carson/Photodisc/Getty Images

The brain is a highly sensitive organ; the proper function of brain processes, such as memory, require a healthy balance of caloric intake. While the association between high calorie diets and obesity is well established, new evidence suggests the important role of diet in the aging brain.

High Fat Diets

Fats are categorized into one of two groups based on their molecular structure. While all fat molecules contain a long chain of carbon and hydrogen atoms, only the fats with double bonds between these atoms are considered "unsaturated" fats. "Saturated" fats do not contain any double bonds in their hydrocarbon chains; this category of fat is unhealthy in large amounts. Epidemiological evidence suggests that these two categories of fat molecules have dramatically different effects on cognition and memory. Indeed, as described in the 2009 article, "Dietary Fatty Acids and Predementia Syndromes," saturated fatty acids have a negative, accelerating effect on cognitive decline, while unsaturated fatty acids are correlated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment.

Effect of Diet on Alzheimer's Disease

The "Mediterranean Diet" has gained popularity for its beneficial effects on cardiovascular and metabolic health; only recently has it been associated with improvement in the cognitive decline seen in the elderly. A study from the journal "Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics" provided evidence that high adherence to a Mediterranean-type diet is associated with slower cognitive decline, reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease, and reduced incidence of other forms of dementia.

Dietary Ketosis and Memory

The opposite of a high calorie diet is caloric restriction, which has been shown to beneficially effect memory. A study at the University of Cincinnati investigated the effect of low and high carbohydrate diets on verbal memory in adults with mild cognitive impairment. The data indicate improved memory performance in the low carb subjects; these patients experienced dietary ketosis due to carbohydrate restriction. The researchers also suggested that the elevated insulin levels, reduced inflammation, and increased energy metabolism might all contribute to improvement in memory function.

Mechanisms of Cognitive Decline: Synaptic Plasticity

Scientists will often conduct research experiments on animal models to better understand the molecular mechanisms of a disease process. For example, research has shown that high-calorie diets impair the learning abilities of rodents by disrupting the hippocampus, or the memory center of the brain. Specifically, high-fat diets lead reduced synaptic plasticity, or the process of forming new connections between neurons. Without the ability to rewire itself, the hippocampus loses the ability to store memories.

References

Article reviewed by V. Mac Last updated on: Jul 18, 2011

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