from journal Neuroscience
It seems plausible that a high-fat and high-sugar diet would cause changes in our intestinal bacteria, but perhaps surprising is those changes in the intestines may be related to a significant loss in cognitive functioning—the power to adjust or adapt to changing situations. Oregon State University researchers say the effect is most apparent in a high-sugar diet, which also showed impairment of both long-term and short-term memory. The study, published in the journal Neuroscience, used laboratory animals. Researchers say it is increasingly clear that bacteria in our gut can communicate with our brain by releasing compounds that stimulate sensory nerves or the immune system as part of a wide range of biological functions.