Photo: delfi
French fries, chips, candy, and burgers — popular “junk foods” — are convenient and tasty, but a new study from the University of North Carolina (UNC) suggests that just four days of a high-fat diet can disrupt memory.
Published in Neuron, the research highlights how high-fat foods affect a specific group of hippocampal brain cells, called CCK interneurons, which are critical for memory formation. Overactivation of these cells under a high-fat diet interferes with the brain’s ability to process glucose, the main fuel for neurons, leading to memory impairment.
The study’s lead author, Juan Song, emphasized the speed of these changes: even short-term exposure to fatty foods can alter cell activity enough to affect memory.
While occasional indulgence is fine, researchers stress moderation to protect long-term brain health and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
