Overeating Linked To Memory Loss

Another cautionary tale against overeating: Researchers from the Mayo Clinic have found a correlation between eating more and memory loss.

The study surveyed a random sample of 1,233 people 70 to 89 years old, finding that those who ate more calories also had a higher rate of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the stage between normal memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers found that the chances of having MCI more than doubled in the higher calorie group (2,143 to 6,000 calories consumed daily) when compared to the lower calorie group (600 to 1,526).

Of course this is just preliminary research, and the study authors plan to investigate the cause of the correlation. Furthermore, the study did not report on the types of calories consumed, or when or how often food was eaten.

Study researcher Yonas Geda told Live Science that in the future, they will look at the effects of types of food, as well as exercise. "In this particular study we did not adjust for physical exercise. I think we are going to do that as well as look at the macronutrients, such as carbohydrates and proteins, to see which ones might be of concern," he said.