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An Evolutionary Perspective on Why Food Overconsumption Impairs Cognition
1Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|January 24, 2019
Summary
Overconsumption of energy-rich foods impairs cognition by disengaging adaptive food scarcity pathways. Intermittent fasting and exercise can stimulate these pathways to support cognitive health.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Metabolic Health
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Brain functions like navigation and decision-making evolved for food acquisition.
- Modern food environments with continuous availability may disrupt these evolved pathways.
- Obesity negatively impacts cognition and increases risks for psychiatric disorders and dementias.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the impact of energy-rich food overconsumption on cognitive function.
- To understand how evolved signaling pathways for food scarcity interact with modern dietary patterns.
- To investigate the role of obesity and epigenetic mechanisms in cognitive outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of evidence on neural signaling pathways related to food acquisition and scarcity.
- Discussion of the effects of obesity on cognition and psychiatric health.
- Examination of epigenetic influences of parental obesity on offspring cognition.
Main Results:
- Overconsumption of energy-rich foods impairs cognition due to disengaged adaptive pathways evolved for food scarcity.
- Obesity is linked to cognitive deficits, increased risk of psychiatric disorders, and dementia.
- Parental obesity can epigenetically predispose offspring to poor cognitive outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Signaling pathways evolved for food insecurity, when chronically disengaged by abundant food, negatively impact cognition.
- Intermittent fasting and exercise can stimulate these neural pathways.
- Stimulating these pathways supports cognitive health across generations.
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