It has been discovered that eating foods high in fat before surgery negatively impacts memory and cognitive function. This implies that people ought to think about acting proactively to reduce their risks, especially if they are more vulnerable.

Memory with a High-Fat Pre-Surgery Diet

According to a recent study by Ohio State University researchers, both younger and older patients’ memory and cognitive function can be adversely affected by consuming a high-fat diet in the days leading up to surgery.

The results, which were published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, point to an increased inflammatory response in the brain that may have long-lasting effects for a few weeks after the treatment.

Additionally, the study discovered that memory problems were effectively averted when a DHA omega-3 fatty acid supplement was taken for a month before to surgery, especially when combined with an unhealthy diet.

The compounding effect of a high-fat diet and surgical operations is highlighted in a recent study conducted by Ruth Barrientos, an associate professor of psychiatry, behavioral health, and neuroscience and researcher at the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research.

Individually, both variables cause inflammation, but when they come together, the effects could be more severe and perhaps result in long-term memory problems. Barrientos and colleagues investigated how life experiences can fuel inflammation in the aging brain.

Numerous studies have connected a reduction in cognitive reserve to either acute or chronic inflammation in the brain. In order to conduct their study, young and old rats were given a high-fat diet for three days prior to having an abdominal surgery simulation.

Researchers found that immune system receptor TLR4 was critical in inducing inflammation in the brain and memory deficits brought on by both high-fat diets and surgery. Scientists mitigated these negative effects by blocking the TLR4 pathway.

Additionally, the study demonstrated how well DHA omega-3 supplementation works to reduce inflammation and prevent memory loss following surgery.

Extending the Study

Barrientos claims that more research is necessary to determine the long-lasting protective effect of DHA, especially in light of the relationship already demonstrated between inflammation-associated memory impairment and a diet modeled after the Western diet.

For high-risk patients having surgery, in particular, she says DHA supplementation might be used as a prophylactic.

This study highlights the significant impact of nutrition on brain health, showing that even a short-term overindulgence in high-fat foods can impair cognitive performance, especially during surgical operations.

An important factor that becomes apparent is inflammation, highlighting the need to reduce inflammation in the brain in the context of the relationship between food, surgery, and memory loss. Interestingly, when a high-fat diet and surgical procedures are combined, even young persons show signs of memory impairment.

Still, the study’s conclusions give cause for hope: DHA fatty acids, which are well-known for their anti-inflammatory qualities, might preserve the brain and prove to be a useful tactic prior to surgery.