Educational failure is a global concern. These include high dropout rates, low literacy rates, inadequate access to quality education, and disparities in educational opportunities. This problem is more acute in developing countries, where economic resources are scarce and investment in educational programs is limited. However, these problems also exist in developed countries due to unequal access to education and lack of adequate support for students facing hardship. In these communities, the prevalence of obesity is increasing among children, adolescents, and young adults as a result of sedentary lifestyles and high consumption of fast and highly processed foods. Is it reasonable to think that there is a correlation between two social phenomena?
Obesity is a big problem worldwide
100,000 years ago, hunter-gatherers, unlike modern humans, were unable to consume enough food multiple times a day. Particularly in harsh environments and severe weather conditions, they had to eat limited amounts of roots, grains, and small animals. Their bodies would have been able to store more calories as fat to provide energy during times of food scarcity.
Modern humans inherit genes and metabolic systems similar to those of our ancestors and consume multiple meals a day. It stores adipose tissue for periods that would normally never occur. Therefore, obesity is a problem in today’s society.
Obesity places a huge burden on today’s health care systems. The World Obesity Federation estimates that obesity affects approximately 770 million adults worldwide in 2020. If no measures are taken, this number is expected to exceed 1 billion by 2030. Obesity is associated with several diseases, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer. However, the effects of obesity on cognitive function and memory are often overlooked. However, recent research shows that obesity may play a significant role in cognitive function and memory decline.
Obesity negatively affects learning and memory
Many clinicians believe that mental illness is separate from physical illness. This often stems from old beliefs about the separation of body and brain. However, it is a mistake to think that physical-related illnesses do not affect cognitive function or the mind. The relationship between metabolism and memory is complex, particularly with obesity, diabetes, and dementia.According to research [1], adipokines released from adipose tissue (a type of adipose tissue) in healthy people have important physiological effects on brain function. However, in obese people, inflammatory chemokines derived from adipose tissue cross the blood-brain barrier and disrupt synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis in the hippocampus.
A study published in 2020 showed that obesity is associated with impaired short-term memory through changes in the metabolism of aromatic amino acids by the gut microbiota. [2]. This study demonstrated differences in working memory, short-term memory, and the size of the hippocampus and frontal regions of the brain between people with and without obesity. They found consistent correlations between levels of aromatic amino acids, their breakdown byproducts, vegetable-derived compounds in both plasma and feces, and short-term and long-term working memory. Mice that received microbiota transplants from obese humans also showed decreased memory scores.
A study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that obesity negatively affects memory through a mechanism involving neuroepigenetic dysregulation of Sirt1, a protein involved in regulating gene expression. The authors found that chronic obesity alters the expression of memory-related genes in the brain through an epigenetic mechanism involving Sirt1. [3].
Some of the mechanisms suggested for the effects of obesity on memory and learning include dysregulation of hormones in the body, such as insulin and thyroid hormones, and inflammation. These inflammatory mediators can cross the blood-brain barrier and influence the structure and function of specific brain regions.
In summary, evidence suggests that obesity can negatively impact cognitive function and memory, including in children whose brains are still developing. The relationship between obesity and cognitive function involves a variety of physiological and lifestyle factors. It is important for parents, educators, and health professionals to be aware of the cognitive effects of obesity in children and take proactive steps to promote healthy habits and prevent obesity. This includes eating a balanced diet, encouraging regular exercise, and reducing sedentary behavior. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms and potential interventions to address the effects of obesity on cognitive function and memory. Addressing obesity in children can improve children’s physical health and support cognitive development and academic performance.
References
Shalev, D., Arbuckle, M. R. (2017). Metabolism and memory: obesity, diabetes, and dementia. Biological Psychiatry, 82(11), e81-e83. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.09.025
Arnorriaga-Rodriguez, M., Meinelis-Perzax, J., Brocas, A., Contreras-Rodriguez, O., Blasco, G., Coll, C., Viarnes, C., Miranda-Olibos, R., Latorre, J., Moreno-Navarrete, J.-M., Castells-Novau, A., Sabater, M., Palomo-Buitrago, M.E., Puig, J., Pedraza, S., Gich, J., Pérez-Brocal, V., Ricart, W., Moya, A., Fernández-Real, X. (2020). Obesity impairs short-term and working memory through the metabolism of aromatic amino acids by gut microorganisms. cell metabolism, 32(4), 548-560.e7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2020.09.002
Hayward, F.D., Gilliam, D., Coleman, M.A., Gavin, C.F., Wang, J., Kurth, G., . . Sweat, J. D. (2016). Obesity compresses memory through a mechanism involving neuroepigenetic dysregulation of Sirt1. J Neurosci, 36(4), 1324-1335. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1934-15.2016