While it is commonly known that many bacteria and other microorganisms (microbes) can harm human health, quite a few are essential to people’s well-being. In fact, over half the cells in the body are actually microbial cells rather than human cells! Many of these microbes live in the gut, where they help digest food and even give protection from harmful bacteria. Several factors, such as one’s diet, can impact the makeup of these microbiomes (all the microbes living within an area).
Research has shown that the gut microbiome may have a larger role in how the body functions than scientists have ever anticipated. In fact, a recent study determined that changes in gut microbiomes due to excessive sugar consumption in childhood may lead to a decrease in memory function. In the study, scientists gave one group of juvenile rats a diet with a sugar solution and compared their ability to complete various memory tasks to those not given any sugar in their diet. While basic recognition memory (which involves simply recognizing that a given certain situation or object is familiar) did not seem to be impacted, the research team discovered that rats given sugar had worse episodic memory, or memories of specific past experiences, than those that were not. The scientists were able to tie this difference to the enhanced growth of a bacteria called Parabacteroides, which is also found predominantly in human gut biomes. While the actual mechanism through which the bacteria impacts brain function is still being determined, researchers have found that this increased presence of Parabacteroides is linked to worse memory function. This was further confirmed when the team introduced this bacteria into rats that did not consume sugar and observed the same decrease in memory function.
While tempting, overeating sugary foods may harm memory function.
Image Source: Elizabeth Perez Holowaty
These findings were more pronounced in juvenile rats than in adults– most likely due to juveniles having vulnerable gut microbiomes as they are still developing. Issues that arise in childhood may persist into adulthood even if they change their diet for the better (an issue among humans as well). An additional concern is that children tend to eat more sugar than adults, increasing the chances of having an impaired memory early on. With the average child eating almost double the amount of added sugar as recommended by the CDC, it is apparent the lingering long-term consequences of excessive sugar consumption will remain an issue for many future generations to come.
Featured Image Source: LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS
