High-Methionine Diet Such as Eggs, Fish, Meat may Promote Memory Loss

Eating eggs, meat and fish can be detrimental for your memory. Researchers from University of Louisville have revealed that an amino acid, called methionine, which causes memory loss is most abundant in such foods. Researchers investigated the effects of a diet rich in methionine and found that it promoted memory loss through increased methylation of netrin, a protein important for maintaining the brain. Dr. Anuradha Kalani conducted an experiment along with other scientists, where mice were fed with a diet containing high amounts of methionine and low amounts of folate and vitamins B6 and B12.

The research team measured the rodent's memory capability along with netrin and methylation levels in its brains. They found that the longer the mice were on the diet, the less netrin was expressed and the more the netrin gene was methylated. The investigators noted that the data confirmed that a high-methionine diet induced learning and memory defects.

The researchers said, "Studies had shown that a healthy diet can boost memory. However, our findings suggested that an excess methionine diet caused memory impairment and hyper-methylation that affected netrin expression, which was a protein important in maintaining synaptic plasticity and involved in axonal guidance and neurogenesis."

The study was presented at the Experimental Biology Meeting 2015.

Source-ANI