Obesity Alters Brain Structure and Function

By -
Obesity Alters Brain Structure and Function
https://www.theguardian.com/science/neurophilosophy/2016/nov/23/obesity-alters-brain-structure-and-function
An experimenter, Cheke, tested participant’s performance in a virtual treasure hunt and then examined factors for what may have influenced their performance she looked at their body mass index and found that participants with a higher body mass index performed worse on the task. Cheke looked further into this relationship and found that the relationship between memory performance and obesity works both ways. The article states that, “being overweight not only impacts memory function, but may also affect future eating behavior by altering recollections of previous eating experience”. This is supported by prior research that found that obesity affects the areas of the brain used in memory and imagination. The experimenter acknowledges that there are several different reasons that may contribute to a person being obese and there is still more research being done to identify ways to help the individuals who are obese.  

According to the article, this type of research is fairly new to the field. This body of research provides some evidence that higher body mass index [obesity] may likely contribute to memory deficits and disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease. I was unaware that a person’s weight could impact their brain and memory. I wonder if there is any research that has applied this knowledge to students and the education system. There are several programs that want to reduce the rate of obesity in children and encourage them to become more active. However, if a study finds that obesity is also impairing a student’s ability to learn and retain the information then school systems might be more inclined to join in the fight against obesity. There are several school systems that have gotten rid of recess and physical education classes, but if administrators and school boards found that it would impact the students learning then they might consider bringing back these programs. 

Comments

  1. Erin KisselNovember 27, 2016 at 3:13 PM

    This article actually made me very sad to read. I would think that if people would see the impacts that obesity is having on other parts of their body such as their brain and executive functions, they would make better choices. People only see the visual affects that weight gain can have on their body, such as their appearance and possible fatigue but the other affects are not as obvious. I believe that if this research was shown to people and they understood that weight gain could impact their memory and their ability to learn and retain information, that would have more of an impact than just telling people that their physical appearance is going to change. It will be interesting to see if more research will be done in this area and if they will use the information that they gather and change the eating habits of people in society. Great article ! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amanda FamularoNovember 27, 2016 at 3:51 PM

    I agree with Erin, this is a very sad article to read. As this article suggests, obesity will actually shrink parts of the brain. As Erin suggested, sharing this research with individuals who make poor decisions in regards to their diet may be effective in helping them make better choices. I am curious if that is done, will these individuals who have experienced loss of memory be able to regain full function. I also found it interesting that the article discussed that the linkage between memory and obesity may be a “two way street.” This suggests that memory controls eating behaviors and this results in obesity. This is great research that can progress interventions to reduce the growing number of obese individuals in America. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sniffing Pleasant Odors may Decrease Cigarette Cravings

By -
https://neurosciencenews.com/olfaction-cigarette-craving-11085/ Smoking today is known to be an addictive habit. In fact, a significant group of people who want to quit smoking will relapse after roughly two weeks of not smoking. However, a new study from the APA has shown that smokers who sniff a pleasant smell prior to smoking will have an easier time resisting the urge to smoke. In this study, the researchers selected 232 smokers from the ages of 18-55. First, the participants were exposed to multiple different smells and asked to identify the most pleasant smell to them. Then, participants were asked to light a cigarette and rate (from 1-100) their desire to smoke that cigarette. After the participants gave a rating, they were given a container to sniff the odor that each participant said was most pleasant. The results suggest that sniffing the pleasant odor while a cigarette was lit caused the craving of smoking the cigarette to decrease. The researchers believe that the ple
Read more

Holding hands can sync brainwaves, ease pain, study shows

By -
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180301094822.htm Summary: Pain researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder and University of Haifa did a studying showing just how far-reaching the simple act of touch can be. They have been studying a phenomenon known as “interpersonal synchronization”, which is the idea that people physiologically sync with those they are with. Pavel Goldstein is the first to look at brain wave synchronization and its relation to pain. He was compelled to do so after the birth of his daughter because it was through that experience he realized holding his wife’s hand helped to eased her pain. He decided to take this idea to the lab in hopes to unveil the science behind a healing touch. They found through their study that “…pain totally interrupts this interpersonal synchronization between couples and touch brings it back.” Touch is powerful and it may even activate pain-killing reward mechanisms in the brain. So if ever you find yourself i
Read more

Music Therapy

By Laurel McNeal -
http:/ /www.brainfacts.org/Diseases-and-Disorders/Neurodegenerative-Disorders/2019/Music-as-Therapy-011719 Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common forms of dementia that effects memory, thinking, and behavior. In the U.S it is estimated that about 5.7 million people have Alzheimer’s and there is not a cure available. Leading caregivers to look for new ways to help their loved ones have a better day to day life. The article talks about how music therapy could help to manage symptoms like depression, anger, and agitation. Helping to improve patients mood and behavior, while decreasing the amount of medication they must take. The music does not cure the disease but does help to stimulate the brain. Music uses many different areas of the brain at one time. The brain must hear and process sounds, language, emotions, and if singing or dancing plan movements. In one research study scientist scanned the brains of dementia patients while they listened to music. One area the supplementa
Read more