Freshman 15 is a common American term used to describe a fresher student who is likely to gain 15 lbs (5 kg) within their first-year at university. Indeed, the transition from home to university often leads students down a convenient and financially friendly path, riddled with take-away and ready-meals. The one-off take-out won’t hurt, but a lifestyle committed to these habits can prove to be detrimental to our mental well-being. As a result, many often question the relationship between food and neuroscience.

Whenever the topic of Neuroscience is discussed, the following questions almost always arise; What do we really know about the brain? What is consciousness? Do we really only use a fraction of it? Is the brain too complicated for any of us to understand? It is true that some of these questions are yet to be answered, such as the topic of consciousness. Nevertheless, since the turn of the century, the field has seen an unprecedented increase in research and discoveries, quickly becoming one of the most popular areas of study within science and medicine. Throughout the first instalment of these series of articles, I plan to discuss how food can impact our thinking, behaviour, and most importantly, how it can potentially be used as a treatment for patients with severe spinal cord and brain injuries.

It is quite obvious that the foods encompassing a healthy diet are what most people might expect. For example, a low-salt and low-sugar diet, while ensuring that you meet the recommended calories and nutrients for the day, is ideal. Indeed, numerous studies have shown a positive correlation between a healthy diet and brain development. A recent study, published in 2018, found that in the developing brain of juvenile rats, a diet rich in prebiotics and bioactive milk led to a decreased level of anxiety-related behaviour (Mika et al. 2018). Additionally, research currently being conducted here, at the Blizard Institute, is also investigating the impact of Omega-3 acids in the treatment of certain spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries.

Hence, the idea of food being an effective and a sought-after treatment is not as far-fetched as many believe it to be. Contrastingly, food can also be seen as one of the main causes of neurodegenerative diseases. For example, a diet high in refined sugar and salt can potentially lead to one of the most common forms of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease. Nonetheless, food does not always lead to a life and death situation. In fact, as many of us can relate, it often has an influence on our mood and behaviour.

The relationship between food and our behaviour can be attributed to several biochemical and environmental processes. However, one of the most popular theories explaining this relationship arises from the gut-brain axis. In short, this axis is a direct connection between the brain and the gut, which includes the stomach, small intestine, and the like. Typically, when we eat something that is full of salt and sugar, one of the many pathways that is activated is our mesolimbic (reward) pathway thereby leading to a sense of pleasure. This is just one of the several theories that are used to explain why we feel pleasure when eating a take-out.

Throughout the coming weeks, we will look at more specific examples of food being a driving force in neuroscience and trauma. In addition, we’ll look at some of the unique ways that food can be attributed to a variety of neurodegenerative diseases and what we can do to ensure that what we’re eating positively impacts our mental and physical well-being.