Highly processed foods will harm memory in the elderly~~👴👵

A new research found that after only four weeks of a highly processed food diet , the brains of aging rats have a strong inflammatory response, accompanied by behavioral signs of memory loss.

In the study, the diet mimics ready-to-eat product, which are usually packaged for a long time and have a long shelf life (such as potato chips and other snacks), frozen food (such as pasta and pizza), and cooked meats containing preservatives. Highly processed diets are also associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, which suggests that it is best for elderly to reduce eating ready-to-eat products. 

Eating highly processed foods can cause severe memory deficits. In the elderly, rapid memory decline is more likely to develop into neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers also found that the intake of omega-3 fatty acid dietary supplements can prevent memory problems and almost completely reduce the effects of inflammation in elderly rats. 

Maybe people should limit to eat highly processed foods in the diet and increase the intake of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids to prevent or slow down this deterioration.

Reference：

Michael J. Butler, Nicholas P. Deems, Stephanie Muscat, Christopher M. Butt, Martha A. Belury, Ruth M. Barrientos. Dietary DHA prevents cognitive impairment and inflammatory gene expression in aged male rats fed a diet enriched with refined carbohydrates. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2021; 98: 198 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.08.214