Do you like BBQ? How about bacon and eggs? If you like these foods and eat them often, you may be putting yourself more at risk for dementia. A new study has linked compounds found in fried meat and eggs to one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease.
When you brown meat, chemicals are produced. These advanced glycation end (AGE) products have been linked to other diseases in the past, such as type-2 diabetes, according to BBC News. AGEs are formed when proteins or fats react with sugar, which can happen naturally during the cooking process.
In this case, the researchers found when they added AGEs to the lifelong diets of mice, the animals developed greater amounts of beta-amyloid in the brain. Beta-amyloid is the protein associated with the brain "plaques" that are seen in those with Alzheimer's disease, according to WebMD.
"These results are compelling," said Derek Hill of the University College London in an interview with the Daily Mail. "Because cures for Alzheimer's disease remain a distant hope, efforts to prevent it are extremely important."
That's not all the researchers found, either. Scientists also discovered that people with higher blood levels of a particular AGE actually showed a bigger dip in their mental faculties over the course of nine months. This seems to indicate that, in fact, AGEs could potentially impact the way a person thinks over time.
So what sort of foods make up a high-AGEs diet? Bacon and other meats that are browned in the oven, grill or frying pan are part of the problem. Dairy products that are either pasteurized or sterilized can also make up a high-AGEs diet.
That said, this doesn't mean that you have to become a vegetarian--though it may help lower your blood pressure. Instead, it's important to regulate how much fried meat and dairy you include in your diet. Everything should be taken in moderation, and these products are no exception.
