Fatty diets can make the brain shrink.
A fatty diet has a negative impact on the brain
Neuroscientists have found that too much fried food and sweet treats has a devastating impact on intelligence.
A 30-week study revealed that fatty diets impair cognitive function and leads to excessive weight gain due to poor metabolism caused by changes in the brain.
The research - conducted by the University of South Australia - also discovered a clear link between fatty food intake and a number of health conditions, including diabetes, depression and Alzheimer's disease.
Professor Larisa Bobrovskaya said: "Our findings underline the importance of addressing the global obesity epidemic. A combination of obesity, age and diabetes is very likely to lead to a decline in cognitive abilities, as well as Alzheimer's disease and other mental health disorders."
Bobrovskaya also warned that the research adds to the growing list of work that links chronic obesity and diabetes with Alzheimer's.