So junk food and sugar have been linked with decreased cognitive function, but it's still something being researched, and it's pretty crazy and really interesting how long-term chronic consumption of sugar can affect us. While there have been some human trials, there have been tons of trials on mice.
The brain is incredible and thanks to glucose homeostasis (stabilizes blood sugar levels), it is great at fighting off minor amounts of sugar in your blood. But it's not as efficient when moderate or severe amounts of sugar are in your blood, it gets overwhelmed. Hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) is really dangerous, it can affect how your neurons function and can lead to cell death and recurrent hyperglycemia is even more dangerous. (Fat ass probably always has hyperglycemia). Recurrent episodes of high blood sugar (or low) can cause cognitive impairment, especially in your hippocampus-dependent memory. (Episodic memory: Information about specific times or places in personally experienced events. Think "What did I have for dinner yesterday?)
In one study I read, researchers gave mice sucrose(a type of sugar mainly found in plants and is the main part of white sugar) and saccharin (artificial sweetener “zero calorie” sweetener), for several weeks, then killed and had their brains examined. Rip Mice thank you for helping me write this post. This study mimicked the prolonged consumption of sugary drinks. They found that the mice that were given sucrose and saccharin for a long period had impaired reward systems. Changing the hippocampus, medial PFC, and striatum. Specifically, regions associated with abnormal risk-taking and a delayed establishment of decision-making.
In another study focused on the long-term effects of sugary drinks in older adults, they found a significant association between sugar-sweetened drinks (soda and energy drinks) and reduced cognitive function, poor memory performance, and a higher risk of cognitive impairment.
Important to note Ambers's favorite sodas are Diet Coke and Diet Dr. Pepper. Both contain aspartame and interestingly only Fountain Diet Coke contains saccharin. So aspartame has been linked to behavioral and cognitive problems many times over.
In another study I read, mice given aspartame showed significant spatial learning and memory deficits, just like the other study. And interestingly the cognitive effects caused by aspartame are transmitted through generations through the paternal lineage.
On another note, Obesity itself has been linked with low intellectual ability in childhood and adulthood. Childhood obesity especially can lead to poor basic working memory ability.
TLDR: Sugar and artificial sweeteners are eating away at Big Al’s brain and making her stupid.
