Junk Food Harms the Brain, Hampers Memory: Study Finds

Rebecca Lewis June 19, 2015

There’s a reason why they are called ‘junk’. Apart from the many chemicals and additives, processed foods contains trans-fats which lead to poorer memory in men aged 45 and younger – new study found.

US researchers found that men whose diets contained the highest levels of the fats were likely to recall 12 fewer words in a memory test than those who avoided them.

’Trans-fat consumption has previously shown adverse associations to behaviour and mood - other pillars of brain function.’ says lead researcher Dr Beatrice Golomb, from the University of California at San Diego.

However, to our knowledge a relation to memory or cognition had not been shown.’

’As I tell patients, while trans-fats increase the shelf life of foods, they reduce the shelf life of people.’ she adds.

Same effect is likely experienced by women

Although the trend was only significant for men, this may only have been due to the small number of women participants in the same age group, according to the researchers.

Trans-fats are uncommon in nature but became commonly produced industrially from vegetable fats. It is considered by many doctors to be the worst type of fat that a person can eat. Trans-fats are commonly found in baked goods, fried food, creamer and margarine, and packed snacks like crisps.

An announcement from US regulators yesterday means that most trans-fats will be removed from American foods within three years.

In Denmark, almost all trans-fats have been banned since 2003 but in the UK, their removal depends on food manufacturers signing up to a voluntary scheme.

Previous research by the same team found people who eat higher levels of the fats tend to be more aggressive.

And a recent US study found trans-fats can alter how we regulate our feelings.

Those who ate more of these fats had less awareness and control over their emotions.

The new findings are published in the online journal Public Library of Science ONE.

Source of this article: How junk food destroys your MEMORY: Young men who gorge on processed foods ’recall fewer words’ in tests, study reveals