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A four-day Western-style dietary intervention causes reductions in hippocampal-dependent learning and memory and interoceptive sensitivity
This study published in 2017 investigated the impacts of briefly consuming a high fat with high sucrose (HFS) diet over 4 days relative to one lower in saturated fat and added sugar, on hippocampal-dependent learning and memory (HDLM) and perception of internal bodily state (interoception). A group of healthy individuals were randomly assigned to either the Experiment condition (HFS breakfast) or the control condition, and were assessed before and after breakfast on day one and four on HDLM, interoception and biological measures. Food diaries were also completed before and during the study. The results showed significant reductions in HDLM and reduced interoceptive sensitivity to hunger and fullness among the Experimental condition group, in comparison with the control group. The greater reductions in HDLM was associated with the larger changes in blood glucose across breakfast. Those assigned to the experimental condition exhibited markedly different blood glucose and triglyceride responses to their breakfast relative to the control group. The Experimental condition compensated for their energy-dense breakfast by reducing carbohydrate intake, while saturated fat intake remained consistently higher than Controls. Attuquayefio et. al (2017) claims to have replicated the results of animal studies in humans in the way a Western-style diet impacts HDLM, and concludes that the link between diet-induced HDLM changes and blood glucose suggests one pathway by which diet impacts HDLM in humans. [NPID: interoception, high fat, high sugar, HDLM, hippocampal-dependent learning and memory, hippocampus, food diary, interoceptive awareness, blood glucose, glucose, carbs, Western-style diet, WS diet]
Year: 2017
