The Effect of Western diet on cognition in humans

Heather Francis*, Richard J. Stevenson

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The typical Western diet, high in saturated fat and refined sugars (HFS), has been observed to cause neurological changes, with a subsequent effect on cognition. The present chapter presents animal and human research demonstrating that high intake of saturated fat, refined sugar or the two in combination, has an effect on cognitive functions, including memory, attention, working memory, inhibition and affective states related to food intake. Putative causal factors thought to underlie these effects are discussed, such as neuronal inflammation, oxidative stress, reduced blood-brain barrier integrity and reduced levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. The chapter also discuses evidence that the neurological effects of HFS diets are linked to disorders that are prevalent in Western societies and also impair cognition, such as depression and neurodegenerative disease. Preliminary evidence suggests that these changes may be reversible through dietary intervention and exercise.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationDiet and exercise in cognitive function and neurological diseases
    EditorsTahira Farooqui, Akhlaq A. Farooqui
    Place of PublicationHoboken, NJ
    PublisherWiley-Blackwell, Wiley
    Pages111-121
    Number of pages11
    ISBN (Electronic)9781118840634
    ISBN (Print)9781118840559
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

    Keywords

    • Cognition
    • Depression
    • Diet
    • Memory
    • Neurodegenerative
    • Refined sugar
    • Saturated fat

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