A new study out of the University of Southern California suggests that there’s a link between excess sugar intake and memory problems in teens.
For their study, researchers fed adolescent lab rats solutions of sugar or high fructose corn syrup in concentrations comparable to a 12-ounce soda. Researchers found that the rats that drank large quantities of the liquid were more likely to:
- Exhibit memory problems
- Experience brain inflammation
- Become pre-diabetic
Adolescent rats who were not fed the sugary solution were less likely to develop the above conditions, but the truly interesting findings come when comparing adolescent rats to adult rats. Researchers said that adult rats who were fed the sugar solution did not have issues with memory loss or brain inflammation, suggesting the excess sugar may be more damaging to younger brains.
“The brain is especially vulnerable to dietary influences during critical periods of development, like adolescence,” said Scott Kanoski, a corresponding author on the study.
Memory Issues
Researchers used a spatial memory maze to see how sugar or its absence affected a rat’s memory. After completing the maze, the adult and adolescent mice in the sugar group were fed the sugar solution and then placed back in the course. The adolescent mice that did not receive the solution were given a similar interval between retrials. On the subsequent attempts, the adolescent rats that were fed the sugary solution preformed far worse than the other two groups.
Researchers believe neuroinflammation in the hippocampus may be to blame, as the hippocampus is part of the temporal lobe that controls memory formation. Adolescent rats in the sugar group were found to experience more hippocampus inflammation than the other two groups, and similar hippocampus degeneration has been associated with condition like Alzheimer’s and dementia in humans.
“Consuming a diet high in added sugars not only can lead to weight gain and metabolic disturbances, but can also negatively impact our neural functioning and cognitive ability.” Kanoski concluded.
Dr. Silverman comments
The plain and simple truth is that excess soda consumption is awful for your body. High schoolers who chug Mountain Dew to stay up late cramming for a test are probably doing more harm than good.
Practice healthy routines like a balanced diet and a good night’s rest. You’d be amazed what your brain can do when it’s fully rested.
Related source: Dornslife.USC.edu