‘Bad fat’ linked to poor brain function in new study

Food that's already known to be bad for your figure is probably also bad for your brain, according to new research.

A new study by Harvard researchers has found that women who eat a lot of saturated fat (a.k.a "bad fat") may hurt their overall brain function and memory over time. Meanwhile, eating monounsaturated fat, long known as a healthy type of fat, can improve brain function and memory. Overall, the research shows that fats may have the same effect on the brain as they do on the heart, HealthDay reported. 

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"Making changes and substitutions in one's diet to eat fewer saturated fats and consume more monounsaturated fats might be a way to help prevent cognitive decline in older people," lead researcher Dr. Olivia Okereke, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, told HealthDay. 

To conduct the study, a team of scientists analyzed dietary data from 6,000 women over age 65, The Atlantic reported. Over the course of a four-year period, the women who ate more saturated fats scored worse on cognitive function tests. 

The news comes just days after a study found a link between high-fructose corn syrup and learning and memory problems. Luckily, that study also found that eating Omega-3 fatty acids may counteract the IQ loss, according to Live Science.