A new animal study suggests that eating fatty foods in the days before surgery could make the inflammatory processes linked to cognitive decline worse, prolonging memory difficulties. These findings suggest that unhealthy dietary habits could exacerbate post-surgery cognitive impairment, potentially increasing the risk of dementia in humans.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago, looked at the effects of a high-fat diet on the inflammatory response and cognitive function of rodents after a simulated surgery. The results showed that the animals fed a fatty diet before the procedure experienced more severe inflammation and greater impairment in memory and learning tasks compared to those on a normal diet.
Potential Mechanisms and Implications
The researchers believe that the high-fat diet may have primed the immune system to overreact to the surgical stress, leading to an exaggerated inflammatory response in the brain. This prolonged inflammation could then disrupt normal brain function and contribute to the cognitive deficits observed in the animals.
These findings have important implications for human health, as post-operative cognitive decline is a common and serious complication that can increase the risk of dementia. The results suggest that limiting the consumption of fatty foods in the days leading up to a surgery may help mitigate these negative effects and potentially improve long-term cognitive outcomes.
Further research is needed to fully understand the complex interplay between diet, inflammation, and cognition in the context of surgical recovery. However, this study provides valuable insights that could guide dietary recommendations for patients undergoing major procedures.