Overeating Linked to Memory Loss
Darrion, Current event #1
Health
A per Sanderson
CNN
Published Feb 13th, 2012
Original article by
A recent study shows the elderly people who eat too much may be at a higher risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) then people with more balanced diets. In a survey of about 700 people, people who ate 2,143 calories or more were more then two times as likely to develop MCI, compared to people who eat 1,526 calories a day. These findings are to be released in April's annual neurology convention.
Although the findings are interesting, it does not yet prove a cause and effect relationship between overeating and memory loss of dementia. Lead researcher, Yonas Geda, says that this, for now, is all speculation. The findings should also not be taken for calorie counting purposes. the people were simply divided into groups based on intake, and not everyone had the adverse effects.
It is recommended that older people eat between 1600 to 2200 calories a day.
Scientists usually refer to MCI as the twilight zone between demetia and normal ageing. increased intake of food may create more oxygen radicals in the system, damaging brain cells, but for now, this is all speculation.
My reaction to this article was that i found it very facinating. overeating is a big problem in the states, and hopefully this article can do something to help that.
This article is very interesting and there have been studies before it that have tried to prove the same thing. Overeating and large weight gain is a big problem in the United States and with the elderly overeating, things will get worse. The elderly's bodies are very vulnerable because their old and their immune systems are not as strong, so weight gain can lead to a weakened immune system so when the body does become under attack, the elderly body will not be able to defend itself, resulting in a shorter life. If people start enforcing this rule of elders eating 1600 to 2200 calories a day, soon more people will start doing it, resulting in longer, healthier lives for the elders.
ReplyDeleteThis article seems to contradict itself. In the first paragraph or so, the article provides a convincing argument that through a study of individuals of 70+ years a diet of over 2,143 calories have a greater risk of getting 1,526 calories. However, the second paragraph of the article contradicts the first. It says that the method of conducting this experiment was generic and not particularly effective for obtaining a conclusive answer to the memory/weight loss hypothesis. The study does not prove anything and can only be accurately tested over longer periods of time. The article claims that while the experiment took into account genetic tendencies to develop memory loss and body mass index it didn't take in physical activity levels. Over all this article takes a summary of an experiment on the relationship between calorie consumption and memory loss and poorly transitions it into a contradictory statement about how the experiment doesn't prove anything and why. I did not find it helpful.
ReplyDeleteI find this topic rather interesting, due to the possibilities it proposes to the many people who over eat in this country. This article proposes that people who eat more may be affected by damaging brain cells, making the elderly age even more than they should. Yonas Geda's research could also show that overweight children could be affected by damaged brain cells due to their over eating habits. Overall I found this article very thought provoking and has made me more aware of the possible consequence of eating more than 2000 calories per day.
ReplyDeleteThis article is very interesting and there have been studies before it that have tried to prove the same thing. Overeating and large weight gain is a big problem in the United States and with the elderly overeating, things will get worse. The elderly's bodies are very vulnerable because their old and their immune systems are not as strong, so weight gain can lead to a weakened immune system so when the body does become under attack, the elderly body will not be able to defend itself, resulting in a shorter life. If people start enforcing this rule of elders eating 1600 to 2200 calories a day, soon more people will start doing it, resulting in longer, healthier lives for the elders.
ReplyDeleteThis article is very interesting and it is a good thing that this research was done because in America, there is a very large problem with overweight people. If it is possible that overeating is linked to memory loss, maybe people will start eating healthier and only eating the right amount and proper foods. No one wants to have their memories taken away. It's the worst prison anyone could ever imagine. If people know that their memories may be gone forever just because they are eating too much, that is in their control. If people are more prone to Alzheimer's because of genetics or just age, that is not there fault and it is not in their control but over eating is and if this study becomes more known to the public, maybe America's obesity numbers will go down.
ReplyDelete