High and Low Salt Diets Linked to Memory Problems in Mouse Study

A study in mice carrying human gut bacteria found poorer memory after the animals were fed diets that were either very high or very low in salt.

The findings suggest that both extremes of salt intake may be relevant to research on memory, rather than high consumption alone.

The use of mice carrying human gut bacteria offers a way to explore connections between diet, the gut and the brain. The results provide clues for further investigation, but do not establish how those connections work in people.

Crucially, the experiment does not prove that very high or very low salt intake has the same effect on human memory. Findings from an animal model cannot be treated as evidence of an identical response in humans.

The study therefore raises questions for future research rather than establishing a recommended salt intake for protecting memory.