High fat diets and copper intake cause memory loss

August 28th, 2006

A recent study shows that a high intake of fat and copper are most likely associated with the cognitive decline in older adults. The study was led by Martha Clare Morris at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

The researchers found that copper alone “was not harmful at all in people who did not have this high-fat diet; but the combination of the two had a significant detrimental effect.” The findings of the study are reported in the August issue of the Archives of Neurology.

An earlier study had revealed an increase risk for Alzheimer’s disease by two to three folds and cognitive decline in older adults who were on the diet rich in saturated and low in unsaturated fats. Fat is saturated by the process of hydrogenation whereby it solidifies at low temperatures. The process helps increase the shelf life of fat.

The findings of the earlier study were based on an animal study. In the study a set of rabbits were put on a high cholesterol diet and were given distilled water which had copper in trace amounts. The presence of cholesterol is associated with the hydrogenation of fat.

Another set of rabbits were put on a diet rich in unhydrogenated fat along with distilled water. A loss of memory function was discovered in the former set of animals only.

Also during autopsy, amyloid beta plaques were discovered in appreciable amounts in the rabbits that were on a diet rich in hydrognetated fat and distilled water containing copper. The deposition of Amyloid beta plaques is particularly associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

A daily intake of 1.6 mg of copper is considered to be high, however the element is also part of vitamin supplements which older adults are advised to take on a regular basis.

Entry Filed under: Healthy Foods