The longer term effects of diet on the human brain

Richard J. Stevenson*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Habitual diet can affect several aspects of brain function. The most well documented effects come from the animal literature and show that diets rich in added sugar and/or saturated fat cause adverse changes to the hippocampus (learning and memory), prefrontal cortex (impulsivity) and brain reward pathways. Several studies have now started to document similar effects in humans. In addition, longitudinal studies are now beginning to identify dietary risk and protective factors in the development of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. This article provides a brief but comprehensive review of this literature, offering the latest insights from the emerging field of nutritional neuroscience, alongside their implications.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)39-42
    Number of pages4
    JournalAgro Food Industry Hi-Tech
    Volume27
    Issue number2
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2016

    Keywords

    • Brain
    • Impulsivity
    • Learning and memory
    • Reward
    • Western-style diet

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