London - Shedding the pounds not only makes you healthier – it improves your memory too, scientists say.
Studies have shown obese people have problems with their episodic memory – the ability to recall life events.
But scientists say older, overweight women who shift weight by dieting also change the part of the brain related to memory tasks.
In the latest study, by Umea University in Sweden, 20 overweight, post-menopausal women, with an average age of 61, were put on diets for six months.
Before the diet, they were asked to memorise unknown pairs of faces and names.
Later, they were shown the same faces along with three letters, and asked to indicate which letter corresponded to the initial of the name linked to the face.
After six months of dieting the women’s average weight had fallen from 188.9lbs to 171.3lbs. And with the weight loss came improved memory, reflected in brain activity patterns that showed up on MRI scans during testing. The women were better at remembering and identifying faces, while reduced brain activity in the areas associated with episodic memories indicated more efficient recall.
Dr Andreas Pettersson told the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Francisco: ‘Our findings suggest that obesity-associated impairments in memory function are reversible, adding incentive for weight loss.’ - Daily Mail