Fiber Deficiency Impairs Amygdala-Based Memory in Aging Brains

Ohio State University researchers published a study in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity finding that three days of refined, fiber-poor diets impaired amygdala-dependent emotional memory in aged rats. The diets rapidly reduced gut-derived butyrate, increased neuroinflammation, and caused microglial mitochondrial dysfunction. The findings imply low dietary fiber could weaken older adults' ability to learn from risky experiences, increasing exploitation vulnerability.