Summary
A study by the University of North Carolina found that eating junk food for just four days can impair memory by overactivating certain brain cells. It highlighted that a high-fat diet affects the brain's ability to process the sugar it needs for energy, disrupting memory functions. Scientists suggest that regulating the brain's glucose supply might reverse these effects.
Key Facts
- Researchers studied the effects of a high-fat diet from junk food in mice.
- Just four days on this diet made certain brain cells, called CCK interneurons, overly active.
- This overactivity disturbed the memory function in the brain's hippocampus.
- The issues arose because the brain couldn't process glucose effectively.
- Restoring glucose levels helped improve memory in the study.
- The study found that intermittent fasting might help normalize brain activity after eating junk food.
- It suggests lifestyle changes could protect brain health and prevent cognitive decline.
- Researchers hope to confirm similar effects in humans in future studies.
