Neurodevelopmental disorders: Effect of high-fat diet on synaptic plasticity and mitochondrial functions

This 2020 article focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders, which are characterized by irregular brain development that lead to impairments in cognition, communication, and social skills. Penna et al. explain that the underlying mechanisms on a molecular level are only partly known. But a common feature of neurodevelopmental disorders is faulty plasticity. While some studies have demonstrated that dietary pattern and physical exercise significantly affect synaptic plasticity of the brain, other studies have also claimed that high-fat diets (with 30-50% fat content) induce systemic inflammation, and damage synaptic efficiency. There are also suggestions that the metabolic changes associated with obesity in pregnant women increase the likelihood of neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring. The purpose of this present review was to discuss these potential mechanisms linking the metabolic dysfunctions induced by a high-fat diet with modifications in synaptic plasticity that underlie neurodevelopmental disorders. [NPID: ASD, Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder, brain development, cognition, communication, social skills, neurodevelopmental disorders, plasticity, brain plasticity, synaptic plasticity, high-fat diets, inflammation, synapses, obesity, pregnant women]

Year: 2020

Reference: Penna, E., Pizzella, A., Cimmino, F., Trinchese, G., Cavaliere, G., Catapano, A., Allocca, I., Chun, J. T., Campanozzi, A., Messina, G., Precenzano, F., Lanzara, V., Messina, A., Monda, V., Monda, M., Perrone-Capano, C., Mollica, M. P., & Crispino, M. (2020). Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Effect of High-Fat Diet on Synaptic Plasticity and Mitochondrial Functions. Brain sciences, 10(11), 805. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10110805