Scientists Say This 1 Common Habit May Cause Faster Memory Decline in Some People
Prevention • • health
Key Points:
- A six-year study of over 1,200 older Australian adults found that high salt intake was linked to a decline in episodic memory specifically in men, with no significant cognitive effects observed in women.
- Episodic recall, which is crucial for memory and linked to the hippocampus, is one of the earliest cognitive functions affected in Alzheimer’s disease, making the findings particularly relevant for brain health.
- High sodium consumption is associated with elevated blood pressure, which can damage brain blood vessels, increase inflammation, and contribute to amyloid buildup, all factors that may impair memory and accelerate brain aging.
- Men in the study consumed more salt and had higher diastolic blood pressure, possibly crossing a threshold where the negative cognitive impact of sodium became measurable over time.
- Experts recommend reducing salt intake by focusing on fresh foods, limiting processed foods, using herbs and spices instead of salt, and adhering to WHO guidelines of less than 2,000 mg of sodium daily to support brain health, especially in older men.