Food is crucial in various life events, from weddings to family dinners. A recent study indicates that food might do more than enhance these occasions; it could play a direct role in forming memories.
Scott Kanoski, a biologist at the University of Southern California, led this research, published in Nature Communications. The study shows that after a nutritious meal, signals travel through the vagus nerve from the gut to the brain. This signal impacts neurons in a brain area called the medial septum, which is known to affect the hippocampus, the centre for memory.
Previous research confirmed that memories form in the hippocampus when neurons release acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. The new findings suggest that gut activity can influence the release of acetylcholine in the medial septum, linking diet directly to memory formation.
The researchers used fiber photometry to measure brain cell activity in rats fed different diets. Those consuming fats and sugars showed enhanced memory-related activity, indicating that it is calorie intake, rather than the act of eating itself, which influences memory signalling.
However, a high-fat, high-sugar diet had the opposite effect. Rats given unhealthy ‘junk food’ early in life displayed weakened memory signals, struggling with memory tasks even after returning to healthier diets.
While the study’s outcomes apply to rats, they might suggest similarities for humans, but more research is needed. Kanoski noted that disruptions in acetylcholine signalling are linked to Alzheimer’s disease. These findings could lead to new treatments based on vagus nerve activity, with ongoing trials investigating their effects on human memory.
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