According to the latest research, a high fat diet may have an unexpected effect on the brain.
In a new study conducted on mice at Emory University in the US state of Georgia, it was observed that when they were given a high fat diet, the balance of bacteria present in the intestines was disturbed. In such a situation, living bacteria can leave the intestines and reach the brain through the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is an important part of the nervous system that connects the lower part of the brain (brain stem) with the heart, lungs and stomach.
According to the researchers, these results may prove important for understanding neurological diseases. During the research, it was also found that a small amount of bacteria was present in the brains of mice suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
David Weiss from the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Emory Vaccine Center and the Emory University School of Medicine said that the most important aspect of this research is that it suggests that neurological diseases may possibly originate from the intestines.
He further said that this discovery could change treatment strategies for brain diseases, because in the future the intestines, rather than the brain, may also become a target for treatment. If this happens, it could have surprising effects on the treatment of people suffering from neurological disorders.
