from journal Biological Psychiatry
High-fat diets have long been known to
increase the risk for medical problems, such
as heart disease and stroke. But a study in
the journal Biological Psychiatry raises the
possibility that fatty foods can change our
behavior by impairing brain function.
Laboratory animals who received intestinal
bacteria shaped by a high-fat diet showed
multiple disruptions in behavior, including
increased anxiety, impaired memory and
repetitive behaviors, even if the animals
were not obese. Their bodies, including
brain, showed signs of inflammation that
may have contributed to the behavioral
changes. Researchers from Louisiana
State University say their study provides
evidence that changes in the mix of
bacteria in our intestines, known as gut
microbiome, are sufficient to alter brain
function.