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High-Calorie Diet Linked to Brain Synapse Damage
15 Oct
Summary
- Cognitive decline from high-calorie diets stems from synapse abnormalities.
- Insulin restricts PQBP1 protein production, affecting nerve cell transmission.
- Improved cognitive function observed after PQBP1 treatment or diabetes drugs.
A recent study published in Molecular Psychiatry has uncovered the molecular mechanisms behind cognitive decline associated with high-calorie diets. Researchers observed that mice on such diets for one to six weeks showed a significant reduction in PQBP1, a protein vital for proper nerve cell communication.
This decline in PQBP1 was linked to insulin's interference with its production under a high-calorie regimen. Consequently, synaptic abnormalities occurred, leading to a noticeable decrease in neural circuit functions and cognitive performance.
Encouragingly, the study demonstrated that both cognitive deficits and synaptic abnormalities were reversible. Treatment with PQBP1 or diabetes drugs successfully restored cognitive functions in the affected mice. These findings suggest potential pathways for preventing cognitive issues in individuals with diabetes or obesity.
