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Fatty and sugary foods can be bad for the brain - not just the waistline.

In an intriguing experiment involving diabetic patients, researchers found that participants suffered memory lapses one to three hours after consuming a high-fat, high-sugar meal.

The researchers, led by Carol Greenwood, a senior scientist at the Baycrest Geriatric Health Care System in Toronto, believe the cognitive problems are caused by an excess production of free radicals when the unhealthy meal is digested.

Free radicals are unstable molecules that play a critical part in many biological processes. But too many of them can damage healthy tissue and trigger inflammation, which, in turn, may temporarily impair mental function.

As part of the study, the volunteers were also given 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C and 800 international units of vitamin E along with one of their fatty meals. In this case, they did not experience a drop in memory as measured by a series of cognitive tests.

Both vitamins are powerful antioxidants that essentially neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals, explained one of the researchers, Michael Herman Chui, a medical student working in Dr. Greenwood's lab.

But the researchers insist that people should not be relying on supplements to compensate for a bad diet.

"I would rather see them eating fruits and vegetables," foods that are naturally rich in antioxidant compounds, Dr. Greenwood said.

Although the study, published in the journal Nutrition Research, was conducted on diabetics, Dr. Greenwood said findings have implications for the general public.

"We have lots of evidence that the quality of diet that somebody consumes in their middle to late adult years is a really important dementia risk factor," said Dr. Greenwood.

She noted it normally takes years for an unhealthy diet to show its ill effects on the brain. But for diabetics, whose health is already compromised by the medical condition, their cognitive functions can take a dive - at least temporarily - with a single meal.

ALZHEIMER'S GENE

An international research team has pinpointed a gene that, if faulty, increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists suspect numerous genes play a role in the mind-robbing disease. But, unlike previously identified risk-factor genes, this one may open the door to new treatment options for the incurable condition.

The gene, known as CALHM1, is involved in the flow of calcium into brain cells. And calcium, in turn, is instrumental in the regulation of signals within cells.

If the gene isn't working properly, it weakens these critical communication signals. What's more, a calcium imbalance could lead to the build-up of amyloid plaques, creating a tangled web that clogs the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

The scientists, led by Philippe Marambaud of the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research on Long Island, N.Y., believe it may be possible to develop a drug that can prop open the defective calcium channels.

The gene is active only in the brain. That means a drug that works specifically on this gene wouldn't cause unwanted side effects in other parts of the body, said Fabien Campagne, one of the researchers at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York state.

Still, Dr. Campagne cautions that it often takes years, even decades, to develop new drugs. "We are one step closer [to a new treatment], but we don't know how far away is the destination," he said in an e-mail interview.

ZEROING IN ON SALT

Looking for ways to cut back on salt? It is not an easy task given that up to 80 per cent of the sodium most people consume on a daily basis is hidden in processed foods and restaurant meals.

To help the public find the unseen salt, the Canadian Stroke Network has launched a new website - http://www.sodium101.ca.

It provides useful tips for curbing your sodium intake when cooking at home and while dining out. The site also provides links to the websites of numerous fast-food and restaurant chains that post the nutritional contents of their foods online. So, you can get a good idea of how much salt you will be ingesting along with your burger and fries.

Some people are particularly sensitive to salt. It can help drive up their blood pressure, and increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

The typical adult should not be consuming more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day. As the new website points out, that is less than the amount of salt found in 2½ dill pickles or one slice of pizza.