Nutrition for Brain Health

Scientists question caffeine’s power to shield the brain from junk food

5 min read
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A recent study provides evidence that while a diet high in fat and sugar is associated with memory impairment, habitual caffeine consumption is unlikely to offer protection against these negative effects. These findings, which come from two related experiments, help

Mental Health and Brain Health

Exercise counteracts junk food’s depression-like effects through gut-brain metabolic signaling

7 min read
The metabolic tug-of-war: Exercise versus ultra-processed diet.

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The metabolic tug-of-war: Exercise versus ultra-processed diet. Voluntary exercise exerts an antidepressant-like behavioral effect and attenuates metabolic dysregulation in rats fed a cafeteria diet. However, diet quality still significantly influences the neuroplasticity response, highlighting the complex interplay between movement

Nutrition for Brain Health

Exercise May Shield the Brain From the Mental Toll of Junk Food

4 min read

For anyone who’s ever tried to outrun a junk-food habit, science may have some encouraging news. A new study in Brain Medicine, conducted in Ireland, has uncovered that regular exercise can counteract the depression-like effects of a Western-style “cafeteria”

Nutrition for Brain Health

Junk food diet can quickly disrupt memory circuits in the brain, study finds

4 min read
Eating junk food increases risk of cognitive decline, study shows
Graphical abstract. Credit: Neuron (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2025.08.016

A new study from UNC School of Medicine researchers, published this week in Neuron, reveals a unique look at how junk food rewires the brain’s memory hub—leading to risk of cognitive dysfunction.