ZOE Science & Nutrition Recap: How ultra-processed food impacts your brain | Prof. Felice Jacka
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May 20, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Professor Felice Jacka, a pioneer in Nutritional Psychiatry, reveals the surprising ways ultra-processed foods affect brain health. She highlights their negative impact on the hippocampus, crucial for memory and learning. Jacka shares compelling research linking diet quality to cognitive function and mental health, underscoring the importance of informed eating habits. With practical tips to reduce ultra-processed food intake, listeners are encouraged to make smarter dietary choices for a sharper mind.
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Hippocampus Growth and Diet Link
- The hippocampus is the only brain region that can grow new neurons and change size throughout life.
- Diet quality is strongly linked to the hippocampus size, impacting learning, memory, and mental health.
Hippocampus Changes with Depression and Diet
- People with depression have smaller hippocampi which can grow bigger after treatment.
- Diet and exercise can profoundly affect the hippocampus size and associated cognitive functions.
Diet Quality Affects Brain Volume
- Studies in the UK and the Netherlands confirm diet quality relates to hippocampal and overall brain volume.
- Alcohol consumption, even in small amounts, is linked to smaller hippocampal size.