Lifestyle-induced dementia: Fast food harms the brain

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As society ages, Alzheimer’s disease increases rapidly. More than 151,000 people live with dementia in Switzerland.

An Australian professor claims to have found evidence that lifestyle, particularly diet, has a significant impact on healthy brain function. “One extra burger a day eats away at the brain” – Professor Nicholas Cherbuin, from the Australian National University’s (ANU) Research Center on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, summarizes the research results with the harsh headline.

Eating yourself with dementia

A standard fast food meal consisting of a burger, fries and a soft drink contains approximately 650 kilocalories; This roughly equates to the amount that people eat more today, on average, than they did in the 1970s. The result: Almost one in three people is overweight.

Not only calories, but also lack of vitamins, fiber and minerals can harm our brain and waistline. “We found strong evidence that unhealthy eating habits and prolonged lack of exercise pose a serious risk of significant declines in brain function, such as dementia and brain atrophy.” The risk of type 2 diabetes also increases.

Eat healthy and get plenty of exercise from an early age

Cherbuin is ringing alarm bells because “a clear link between brain deterioration and unhealthy lifestyle habits” has been proven: “The damage is nearly irreversible.” That’s why it’s important to “eat healthy and get fit as early as possible.”

One type of dementia is Alzheimer’s. Many people with dementia and other brain disorders, including brain shrinkage, eat too much bad food and don’t get enough exercise throughout their lives, Cherbuin said.

And once neurodegeneration, the loss of function and loss of neurons, occurs, there is no going back. Cherubin’s advice is simple. At 60, it’s too late. You should pay attention to healthy eating and plenty of exercise from an early age. (cut)

Source : Blick