The Lasting Impact of Junk Food on Childhood Memory

A study at the University of Southern California suggests that a diet high in fat and sugar during adolescence may lead to long-term memory impairment in adulthood, similar to findings in rats. The research indicates that a junk food-filled diet may disrupt a teen’s memory ability for a long time, affecting the levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for memory and brain function. While the study shows hope for intervention with medication inducing the release of acetylcholine, further research is needed to understand how memory problems from a junk food diet during adolescence may be reversible.