Prolonged consumption of foods with high salt content can weaken memory and learning ability, and also increase anxiety behavior.
Elchi.az reports that this conclusion was reached by scientists from “Xi’an Jiaotong” University.
The results of the study were published in the European Journal of Pharmacology (EJP).
During the experiment, laboratory mice were fed a high-salt diet for six months. Behavioral tests showed that their cognitive functions were weakened, their learning ability decreased, and their anxiety levels increased. At the same time, researchers discovered signs of neuronal damage and inflammation in the hippocampus, a brain region that plays a key role in the formation of memory and emotions.
The analysis showed that the main mechanism of these changes is the disruption of the “gut-brain” axis. A high-salt diet caused changes in the composition of the gut microbiota, which in turn was associated with changes in the activity of brain genes, increased neuroinflammation, and nerve cell death.
Scientists have also identified specific groups of bacteria associated with inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes. In particular, an increase in the Dubosiella and Anaeroplasma groups in the gut microbiota caused an increase in the expression of several inflammatory markers (Btbd16, Il1b, Prlr, Cd24a, Ak).
The study authors note that the findings confirm the role of the gut microbiota in the development of cognitive impairments and point to the potential danger of excessive salt consumption in the diet. In the future, these results may provide a basis for preventive approaches to protecting cognitive health through dietary regulation.
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