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It has been found that consuming junk food for just a few days can lead to a decline in cognitive function. Conversely, adjusting eating habits can help restore impaired brain function.

According to SciTechDaily, an American science media outlet, on September 16 (local time), a research team from the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine recently published a study in the international journal Neuron. The study revealed that "an ultra-processed, junk food-based diet rapidly alters the hippocampus-the brain's memory center-and increases the risk of cognitive decline."

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After feeding laboratory mice junk food and Western-style high-fat foods, the research team conducted behavioral tests and found that, in just four days, a specific type of hippocampal neuron called CCK interneurons became abnormally hyperactive.

This hyperactivity occurs because the brain cannot properly absorb glucose. The study showed that even a few days of consuming saturated fat-rich junk foods such as cheeseburgers and French fries can disrupt memory processing in the hippocampus. The researchers also found that an enzyme protein called PKM2, which regulates energy use in brain cells, plays a key role in driving these negative effects.

The research team warned that the brain's memory circuits are strongly influenced by dietary habits, and that a diet high in saturated fats can increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Juan Song, the UNC pharmacology professor who led the study, stated, "While we knew that diet and metabolism could affect brain health, we did not expect to discover that even short-term exposure to a high-fat diet could directly damage a specific group of hippocampal neurons-CCK interneurons. What surprised us most was how quickly the activity of these cells changed in response to reduced glucose supply, and that this change alone could impair memory."

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It was confirmed that brain health, which had been impaired by a high-fat diet, could return to normal through the recovery of glucose supply and dietary adjustments. Additionally, managing eating habits or using pharmaceutical approaches proved effective in preventing obesity-related neurodegeneration. In particular, even dietary management alone-such as intermittent fasting after a high-fat diet-was sufficient to normalize CCK interneurons and improve memory function.

Professor Song said, "This study shows how quickly the food we eat can affect brain health. It suggests that early interventions such as fasting or medication can protect memory and reduce the risk of long-term cognitive problems associated with obesity and metabolic diseases. In the long term, such strategies may help reduce the burden of dementia by providing a comprehensive approach to managing both the body and the brain."

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The research team is currently conducting further studies to determine how glucose-sensitive neurons disrupt brain rhythms that support memory. They plan to verify whether such targeted therapies can be applied to humans and whether a high-fat diet could be a contributing factor in Alzheimer's disease. The team also intends to explore whether eating patterns that stabilize brain glucose can provide protective effects.