Scientists discover a natural compound that could protect the brain from too much salt

Eating too much salt may do more than raise blood pressure.

The short version

• It could also harm memory and social behavior.
• In a new study, Japanese researchers discovered that a soy-derived compound called LPC70 helped protect mice from several damaging effects of a high-salt diet.
• Mice given the supplement had lower blood pressure, better memory, and improved social interactions compared with mice consuming excess salt alone.

What happened

Consuming too much salt can affect more than blood pressure. Growing evidence suggests that excessive salt intake may also interfere with memory, thinking, and emotional well-being.

Why it matters

High salt (HS) consumption is already a major public health concern because of its connection to hypertension, but its potential effects on the brain make finding ways to reduce the damage even more important.

Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at ScienceDaily — Top Science via the links above and below.