The BRICS TimesA high-fat, high-sugar “Western diet” triggers serious mental health deterioration in aging female subjects and researchers warn the same pattern likely holds true for humans, especially women past menopause.
What the Science Actually Found
A major international study has confirmed what many have long suspected eating too much junk food does more than expand your waistline. Scientists from Belgorod State National Research University (BelSU) in Russia, working alongside researchers from China, the Netherlands, France, and Germany, found that a “Western diet” rich in saturated fats, cholesterol, and sugar actively disrupts brain chemistry. The research, published in the journal Metabolites, links high-calorie junk-food eating directly to psychological disturbances in aging female mice.
The head of BelSU’s Laboratory of Genetic Technologies, Alexei Deykin, explained the wider picture a Western diet triggers systemic inflammation and metabolic breakdown across the body. “The Western diet causes systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction. These lead to obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic and hormonal disorders raising the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death,” Deykin noted.
The Serotonin Connection Nobody Talks About
At the center of this research is a brain chemical most people know only by name serotonin. This neurotransmitter governs mood, emotions, movement, sleep, and a range of physiological functions. The brain constantly recycles serotonin through a process called “reuptake” neurons pull back unused serotonin from the gaps between cells. In depression, this reuptake happens too fast, leaving too little serotonin available.
Many common antidepressants work by blocking this reuptake allowing serotonin levels to stay higher and stabilizing mood. The researchers discovered that weight gain and a high-calorie diet directly interfere with the serotonin transporter protein known as SERT, which manages this reuptake process.
“Medications used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, fibromyalgia, and anxiety disorders all act on the serotonin transporter (SERT), which controls serotonin reuptake. We found that weight gain and a high-calorie diet disrupt SERT function and worsen the mental state of aging mice,” said Professor Tatyana Strekalova, who led the study at Maastricht University.
Three Weeks of Junk Food: The Experiment
The team fed aging female mice a diet high in sugar, saturated fats, and cholesterol for just three weeks. The effects were striking. The animals showed reduced glucose tolerance and significant changes in gene expression in the hypothalamus and liver both critical for controlling metabolism and emotional regulation.
The behavioral changes were equally alarming. The mice became less willing to explore new environments a classic sign of anxiety. They stayed frozen longer during forced swim tests, avoiding effort to escape. They hesitated longer before stepping down from platforms. Their memory worsened noticeably. “We saw that metabolic disorders in mice come with abnormal behavior reduced exploratory activity in new environments, impulsivity, behavioral disruption, and helplessness. Female subjects turned out to be especially vulnerable to diet-induced metabolic and behavioral disturbances, particularly during aging,” Strekalova said.
Why Women Face the Greatest Risk
The study focused specifically on aging female subjects and the reason is deliberate. Women in menopause represent the highest-risk group for both metabolic and mental health disorders. Deykin drew a direct line between mouse biology and human reality the serotonin transporter gene in humans has a well-documented variant called SLC6A4 (5-HTTLPR). People carrying the “short” version of this gene just like mice with reduced SERT function show a significantly higher tendency toward anxiety and depression.
“The study was specifically conducted on aging females because women in menopause are the highest-risk group for metabolic and mental disorders. Since the underlying biochemical mechanisms are shared across mammals, these patterns very likely apply to humans as well,” Deykin concluded.
Junk Food Is a Mental Health Risk Not Just a Physical One
The practical message from this research is clear and urgent. Unhealthy eating loaded with animal fats and simple carbohydrates does not only disrupt metabolism it can actively trigger anxious and depressive behavior, and weaken memory. “Therefore, watching what you eat is not just about your figure or your heart it is a real tool for preventing mental disorders, especially in vulnerable population groups,” Deykin stated.
Looking ahead, the research team aims to identify specific molecular targets for personalized prevention and treatment of diet-related mental health conditions.
Mayur Mohta
Akshay Didwaniya
Aditya Didwaniya
