Previous studies have established that obesity can cause memory losses, but a recent finding says the problem can be reversed through weight loss.
Previous studies have established that obesity can cause memory losses, but a recent finding says the problem may be reversed through weight loss.
The specific type of memory they’re talking about is episodic, the kind that lets people recall events.
Swedish doctor Andreas Pettersson discovered this by giving memory tests to 20 overweight women around the age of 60. They were assessed on their abilities to learn and recall names and faces.
The study participants were then put on diets for six months.
After their weight loss, the women were again tested. This time in addition to being quizzed their brain activities were observed via brain scans.
They showed improvement, which Pettersson attributed to greater efficiency in storing and recalling information.
In addition to supporting this previous studies have shown evidence of improvements in other areas of cognition.
In one of them, obese subjects who lost at least 50 pounds experienced improvements in several cognitive areas including organization skills.
Those who did not lose weight exhibited declining memory function.
