Frequent Consumption Of Fast Food Can Disrupt Memory

Illustration of fast food (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Fast food foods that are high in saturated fat and additional sugar not only have an impact on physical health, but can also affect brain function.

This excessive consumption of this type of food can damage cognitive abilities, including the ability to remember directions, recognize places, and accurately estimate distances.

A study published in the International Journal of Obesity reveals that unhealthy diets can interfere with brain spatial abilities. The study was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Sydney involving 55 young participants tested using virtuallattices to assess their navigational capabilities.

During the trial, participants were asked to find the location of the hidden treasure chest in six virtual reality simulations, each for four minutes. If they fail to find the coffin, its location will be displayed for 10 seconds as a clue. In the last experiment, the location of the coffin was changed, and participants were asked to guess a new place based on their memory.

In addition, the researchers also evaluated participants' diet through questionnaires and performed a number-based memory test.

The results show that participants who often eat high foods of processed sugar and saturated fat have greater difficulty remembering the location of the coffin than those who have a healthier diet. This shows a close connection between the quality of food and brain health.

Furthermore, it is found that this unhealthy diet can have a negative impact on the hippocampus' part of the brain which plays an important role in the formation of memory and spatial navigation.

"These findings are proof that eating patterns greatly affect brain health, even at a young age, when cognitive functions should still be optimal," explains Dr. Dominic Tran, principal researcher from the Faculty of Psychology, University of Sydney.

Even so, Tran added that this negative impact could still be reversed. According to him, by improving the diet, the ability of the brain to navigate and shape memory can recover.

The good news is that this damage is likely to be restored. Changes in diet can improve the function of the hippocampus, which means that our ability to recognize new routes or explore the environment will also improve," said Dr. Tran.