It is well known that Mulbust harms our linebut recent research shows that it could also disrupt our memory.
This is what a team of scientists at the University of Sydney, who demonstrated thatA diet rich in fats and sugars can alter the capacity of the brain to memorize places and to find their way in space.
Research suggests that All this is due to the impact of this type of power on the hippocampusthe part of the brain that helps us to form memories and to locate ourselves, for example when we are looking for the way back or we are looking for where we parked our car.
The study, conducted by Dr. Dominic Tran of the school of psychology, is the first to test the impact of an unhealthy diet on this capacity in young adults, and it is revealing to say the least.
Labyrinth memory test
To explore the theory of influence of food on memory, the research team asked 55 university students aged 18 to 38 to make a “virtual reality labyrinth”where they had to find a treasure chest using landmarks. They repeated the operation several times, then, during the last test, the trunk was withdrawn; They had to remember its location, only of memory.
-Students also fulfilled questionnaires on the frequency of their consumption of sweet and fatty food, made their BMI measured and carried out a working memory test. Result ? Those who consumed more foods rich in fats and sugars had less good results To remember the location of the trunk.
“After having controlled working memory and BMI, measured separately from experience, The consumption of sugar and fat of the participants has proven to be a reliable indicator of their performance In this seventh final test, “said Dr Tran.
Research suggests that These memory losses could be linked to lesions or to hippocampus disturbances rather than the whole brain. Fortunately, they are not necessarily permanent.
“The good news is that we think that This situation is easily reversible “Explains Dr. Tran. “” Food changes can improve the health of the hippocampus And, therefore, our ability to adapt to our environment, for example when we explore a new city or discover a new route to go home. »»
He adds that this research shows that “ Food is important for brain health at the beginning of adulthood », A period when cognitive functions are generally intact.
