Cognitive and behavioural effects of high-fat, high-sugar diet reversal: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies

.013). Meta-regressions revealed test- and diet-dependent effects of diet reversal, with significant memory improvements in studies using the novel object location test, or high-fat diets, but not high-sugar or combined HFHS diets. Diet reversal had no significant effects on tests of anxiety-like or depression-like behaviour, motivation, or locomotor activity. Heterogeneity estimates were moderate to high across domains, and risk of bias was generally low. Results demonstrate that diet-induced cognitive impairments are amenable to healthy diet intervention in controlled animal models, underscoring the need for public health nutrition strategies designed to reduce intake of foods high in sugar and fat.