High-Sugar, High-Fat Diets Linked to Impaired Spatial Navigation, Memory

A new study from the University of Sydney reveals that diets high in saturated fats and sugars can impair brain performance, specifically spatial orientation. This ability, crucial for remembering routes and navigating, is closely linked to the health of the hippocampus. The good news is that dietary changes can improve hippocampal health and spatial navigation abilities. The study, involving university students, found that those who consumed less sugar and fat were more accurate in recalling locations within a virtual reality maze. Researchers noted that sugar and fat intake was a reliable predictor of performance, even after controlling for working memory and BMI. This highlights the potential impact of diet on brain health, even in young adults when cognitive function is typically at its peak.