Dietary Changes Linked too Rapid โImprovements in Brain Health, Study Finds
new research from the University of Texas at โAustin demonstrates โฃthat even short-termโค dietary adjustments – either low-calorie or low-carbohydrate – can measurably reduce levels of brain chemicals associated โคwith inflammation โขand memoryโ issues. โขThe study, published recently, offers encouraging evidence that protecting brain โขhealth โcan begin with relatively simple changes to eating habits.
The research focused on individuals with early-stage metabolicโ dysfunction-associated steatotic โliver disease โ(MASLD), a common chronic liver โcondition affectingโ an estimated 38% โฃof adults globally. MASLDโฃ is often associatedโ with โcognitive โsymptoms like reduced attention and difficulty with executive functions,โฃ such as organization and task management. These symptoms are linked to elevatedโ levels โฃof neurometabolites like cerebral glutamate and myo-inositol, wich can signal inflammation and โneurotoxicity.
Researchers followedโ a cohortโค of patients with โMASLD, assigningโ them randomly to either a โlow-calorieโค or โฃlow-carbohydrate โขdiet for just two weeks. Before and after the dietary intervention, participantsโข underwent health โscreeningsโค and brain and liver MRI imaging.
The results were striking. “We โfound that โreducingโค liver fatโ through short-term dietary changes โalsoโค lowered levels of certain brain metabolites that can signal inflammation and neurotoxicity when elevated,” explainedโ Andreana P. Haley, professor of clinical psychology at UT Austin and lead author โof the study.
specifically, 97% of participants experienced a decrease in โliver fat, while 77% saw a reduction โขin glutamate levels and 70% experienced a decrease in myo-inositol.โ “We were struck by how quickly the brain responded,” Haley stated. “In just two weeks, we โsaw measurable improvements in brain metabolites, something that hadโฃ only โbeen โspeculated about before.”
Given projections that MASLD โคwill affect 55% of the world’s adult population by โค2040,the findings โขare particularly timely. Haley expressedโฃ hope that the study will motivate both healthcare โฃprofessionals and individuals to prioritize metabolic health.
“Even short-term, achievableโ dietary changes mayโค reduce brain processes that contribute โto cognitive decline,” she said. “We hope this โmotivates both clinicians โฃand individuals to take early action on metabolic health, not only โto protect the โคliver โbutโ also to support long-term brain function.”
The researchers โขare now planning โขa larger clinical trial to investigate whether specific periods throughout lifeโ are moreโ sensitive โคto the benefits โof dietary interventions for brain health.
Source: UT Austin: โ https://news.utexas.edu/2025/09/30/study-finds-dietary-changes-quickly-alter-brain-markers-linked-to-memory-and-inflammation/