New Delhi: Concerned eat more? to blame The hippocampus — the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory — because it may be behind your desire to eat and the resulting weight gain, according to a study out Wednesday.
The study, published in the journal Nature Metabolism, shows that neurons in the hippocampus are encoding memories of sugar and fat. This memory system is shaping feeding behavior. Metabolic health.
Guillaume de Lartigue, from the Monell Chemical Senses Center – an independent non-profit research institute in Pennsylvania, US – has, for the first time, identified the brain’s food-specific memory system and its direct role in overeating and diet-induced obesity. pointed out.
“In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with advertising and environmental stimuli designed to remind us of pleasurable food experiences,” said Dr. de Lartigue. “Surprisingly, we’ve identified a specific population of neurons in the hippocampus that not only form these food-related memories, but also drive our eating behavior. The relationship between body weight and metabolic health. can have significant implications,” the expert added. .
The study explained that these neurons encode memories of the spatial location of nutritious food.
These act as “memory traces”, especially for sugar and fat. In a study of mice, researchers found that when these neurons were silenced, it affected the animals’ ability to “recall sugar-related memories, reduce sugar consumption and prevent weight gain.” does
This was also evident when the animals were exposed to a diet that caused greater weight gain.
“Memory systems in the hippocampus evolved to help animals locate and remember food sources that are important for survival,” said first author Mingxin Yang, a University of Pennsylvania doctoral student in the de Lartigue lab. are.” “In a modern environment, where food is abundant and cues are ubiquitous, these memory circuits may lead to overeating and obesity.”
The study results open up new possibilities for tackling overeating and obesity. The team set out to develop treatments to target hippocampal memory circuits. This can help disrupt memory triggers that lead to increased consumption of unhealthy, high-calorie foods.
“These neurons are important for associating sensory cues with food intake,” Dr. de Lartigue said. “Their ability to influence both memory and metabolism makes them promising targets for the treatment of obesity in today’s food-rich world.”