Daijiworld Media Network- Sydney

Sydney, Apr 23: A new study conducted by scientists at the University of Sydney has revealed that diets high in refined sugar and saturated fat may impair brain function, particularly spatial navigation, which is closely linked to the health of the hippocampus—a brain region critical for memory and learning.

Led by Dr Dominic Tran of the School of Psychology, the research was published in the International Journal of Obesity and focused on how high-fat, high-sugar (HFHS) diets affect first-person navigation ability, a cognitive process that relies heavily on the hippocampus.

“The good news is we think this is an easily reversible situation,” said Dr Tran. “Dietary changes can improve the health of the hippocampus, and therefore our ability to navigate our environment, such as when we're exploring a new city or learning a new route home.”

Key Findings:

• 55 university students aged 18–38 participated.
• Participants completed diet questionnaires, a working memory test, and had their BMI recorded.
• The core experiment involved navigating a virtual reality maze to locate a treasure chest using visual landmarks.
• Those with low intake of fatty and sugary foods consistently performed better at remembering and navigating the path.
• Even after accounting for working memory and BMI, diet alone predicted performance in spatial tasks.

Dr Tran emphasized that while previous studies have established the long-term risks of poor diet—including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline—this research shows that even young adults with typically healthy brain function can be negatively impacted by frequent consumption of HFHS foods.

“This research gives us evidence that diet is important for brain health in early adulthood, a period when cognitive function is usually intact,” he added.

Why This Matters:

This study underscores the critical link between diet and brain health, even among young adults. It highlights the possibility that early dietary interventions could help preserve cognitive function and delay age-related decline.

As the Western diet continues to trend towards high consumption of processed and sugary foods, such findings are a wake-up call to adopt healthier eating habits—not just for physical health, but for cognitive well-being as well.