The Impact of Diet on Memory Functioning
Researchers have found that early consumption of a Western diet can lead to long-lasting deficits in episodic memory, despite not causing obesity or metabolic dysfunction. The study, conducted on rats, suggests that disruptions in hippocampal acetylcholine signaling may mediate these memory impairments. While changes in the gut microbiome due to the diet were reversible with a healthy diet intervention, the cognitive impairments persisted. The findings highlight the critical role of diet in brain health, particularly during early developmental stages, and emphasize the need for further research on the translational relevance to humans.