Junk food consumption during adolescence has irreversible impacts on memory

The excessive consumption of fast food is not only a public health issue but also a threat to our cognitive abilities, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Southern California. This research highlights the devastating effects of a diet high in fats and sugars on memory, particularly in adolescents.

The study, conducted on rats, found that young rodents fed an imbalanced diet showed persistent memory disorders. Even after being switched to a healthy diet, these rats did not show any improvement in their cognitive abilities, unlike the control group that followed a balanced diet from the start.


A post-mortem analysis of the rat brains revealed significant alterations in the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for memory. These results demonstrate that the damage caused by junk food to the brains of adolescents could be irreversible.

The implications for humans are alarming. The researchers believe that excessive consumption of fast food between the ages of 10 and 24 could permanently hinder brain development. They emphasize the need for more extensive studies on humans to fully understand these harmful effects and find ways to counter them.

Scott Kanoski, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Southern California, warns of the long-term consequences of an unhealthy diet during adolescence. He insists that some brain alterations may be less reversible when they occur at a young age.

Despite these bleak prospects, it should be noted that medications that induce the release of acetylcholine have shown promising results in reversing memory damage in rats. However, these treatments require direct administration in the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for memory.