By Phil Gutis | August 4th, 2022
When analysis dropped at this yr’s AAIC concerning the relationship between junk meals consumption and mind well being, late-night present host Stephen Colbert had a bone to choose. Phil Gutis experiences.
SAN DIEGO – In my journal from the Alzheimer’s Affiliation Worldwide Convention earlier this week, I famous new analysis about extremely processed meals and their influence on mind well being.
The research discovered that individuals who devour the very best quantity of ultra-processed meals — meals which can be largely or all synthetic elements — have a 28 % quicker decline in world cognitive scores – together with reminiscence, verbal fluency, and government operate, in comparison with individuals who didn’t devour fairly a lot junk meals.
“What are these ultra-processed meals,” I wrote. “Nicely, they’re those that include massive portions of fat, sugar, salt, synthetic flavors/colours and preservatives. In different phrases, all the great things: sodas, breakfast cereals, white bread, potato chips, and frozen meals, akin to lasagna, pizza, ice cream, hamburgers, and fries.”
I ended my journal by noting that I used to be going to seize a Food plan Coke and a muffin to provide myself a mid-morning vitality increase earlier than diving into the remainder of the convention.
I’m delighted to report that Stephen Colbert picked up on my reporting – okay, okay, perhaps he was truly alerted to the story by a report in USA At present concerning the analysis. In his present final evening, Colbert had greater than a little bit of enjoyable with the analysis.
He took specific goal on the discovering that simply 100 energy of processed meals can have an effect on your bodily well being, based on Rafael Perez-Escamilla, a professor of public well being at Yale College and creator of the research.
Simply 100 energy of processed meals
can have an effect on your bodily well being. “In order that’s two cookies,”
Perez-Escamilla instructed the paper.
“In order that’s two cookies,” Perez-Escamilla instructed the paper.
That cookie stat set Colbert off.
“Right here’s some information for you, science,” Colbert mentioned. “If you’d like us to stay a very long time, you’ve bought to know one thing. We’re all simply residing to get to the following cookie.”
Watching the section with a bunch of workers from the Alzheimer’s Affiliation within the press room and sharing within the laughter, I used to be reminded of one thing essential. Though the subject we write about and work on is lethal severe, humor can typically be the most effective medication.
Phil Gutis is a former New York Occasions reporter and present Being Affected person contributor who was recognized with early onset Alzheimer’s. This text is a part of his Phil’s Journal collection, chronicling his expertise residing with Alzheimer’s and his participation within the aducanumab medical trial.