How excess salt in your diet affects your brain

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have found that excessive salt consumption impairs cognitive abilities. In an experiment on mice given a dose of salt 8-16 times higher than normal, researchers observed worsened maze navigation and increased levels of tau protein, which is linked to Alzheimer's disease. After returning to a normal diet, some functions partially recovered.

Scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College conducted a study on laboratory mice showing that excessive salt consumption leads to cognitive decline. The rodents were fed a diet with salt levels 8-16 times higher than normal. As a result, the animals showed impaired maze navigation and reduced ability to recognize new objects. Researchers also detected increased levels of tau protein in the brain—a substance whose accumulation is associated with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The mechanism involves reduced nitric oxide production, which activates the enzyme CDK5, triggering tau protein phosphorylation and disrupting neuronal function. After returning to a normal diet, the mice's cognitive functions partially recovered, suggesting the damage may be reversible. Although the dosages in the experiment significantly exceeded average human consumption, scientists consider the results important for understanding the link between diet and brain function. The article recommends limiting processed foods, monitoring sodium intake (no more than 5 grams of salt per day per WHO guidelines), increasing potassium consumption, and maintaining vascular health.