Researchers have suggested that protecting the brain may be easier by reducing sugar consumption early on, rather than relying on subsequent treatment after the effects have appeared.
This is linked to humanity's innate love of sugar, which helped our ancestors survive by providing a source of high-calorie energy, but which has become a risk factor in modern times when consumed in excess. Despite well-known risks such as obesity, diabetes, tooth decay, and cognitive decline, there is still a widespread belief that the effects of a poor diet can be easily reversed by returning to a healthy eating pattern.
However, a recent study by Australian researchers, published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience, indicated that switching to a healthy diet only partially improves cognitive functions, and that some memory disorders may persist even after a long period of proper nutrition.
A review of several animal studies showed that mice that were put on a high-sugar, high-fat diet and then switched to a healthy diet showed an improvement in memory, but it did not reach the level of animals that were not exposed to a harmful diet in the first place.
The results showed that sugar had a more damaging effect than fat alone, as it was linked to greater impairment in cognitive recovery, particularly in the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for learning and memory. It was also observed that diets high in sugar led to decreased activity and reduced efficiency in this region.
The researchers stressed that these findings are not intended to cause alarm, but rather to emphasize the importance of early prevention, noting that reducing sugar intake now is more effective than trying to compensate for its damage later through diets alone.
