Sugar & Memory
Debra S Austin, JD, PhD
Professor, Author of The Legal Brain, Keynote Speaker & Well-being Consultant
Scientists were interested in empowering neural stem cells, which when activated, become new neurons in the memory-processing hippocampus. They used CRISPR gene-editing technology to knock out various genes in mice. Gene knockout is a genetic engineering technique that inactivates or removes a specific gene from the genome of an animal.
When they knocked out a specific glucose transporter gene in older mice, the result was a significant increase in the production of new neurons. Knocking out the glucose transporter gene limited the amount of glucose the neural stem cells were exposed to, and that improved the birth of new brain cells.
Takeaway:? This complex gene editing research suggests that limiting sugar could enhance the birth of new brain cells in our memory-processing hippocampus.? To improve the health and function of your hippocampus, which empowers your memory and expertise, consider reducing your intake of sugar and simple carbs.
Well-being is a journey, not a quick fix.
The Legal Brain: A Lawyer’s Guide to Well-being and Better Job Performance is available on Amazon.
Sources
Tyson J. Ruetz, et al., CRISPR–Cas9 screens reveal regulators of ageing in neural stem cells | Nature, Oct 2, 2024.
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