Fast Food Increases Alzheimer's Risk

Results from a new Swedish study indicate there may be a connection between eating fast food and an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

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The study is part of a doctoral dissertation by Susanne Akterin at Karolinska Instititet in which she examined mice which had been genetically modified to be more susceptible to effects similar those which accompany Alzheimer’s.

For a period of nine months, the mice in the study were fed a diet high in fat, sugar, and cholesterol – substances found in abundance in fast food items.

“When we studied the mice’s brains, we saw a chemical change similar to what one sees in a brain with Alzheimer’s,” said Akterin in a statement.

Among other things, small growths appeared on the nerve cells which impeded the cells from functioning normally.

The Local

Speaking from a historical perspective, this is no surprise. Grains, refined sugars, and the types of fat used in fast food -- refined as well -- are relatively recent introductions to our diet.

Our ancestors ate a lot of eggs, dairy, vegetables, meat and berries. Everything else is brand new, on an evolutionary scale, and will probably create problems.

On the other hand...

Scientists found adding foods like blueberries to a regular diet, resulted in improvements in memory.

The foods, known as flavonoids, were historically believed to act as antioxidants in human bodies.

But the study indicates they also activate the part of the brain which controls learning and memory.

BBC

It's not hard to survive winter. But you need to plan for it. That means finding foods in every possible area, especially those that store well. Berries dry; tubers and apples store well; hay dries and can be converted to milk by cows; chickens can eat stored seeds and make eggs; some meats and fish can be preserved.

Our ancestors survived by eating these things. We should pay more attention to that.