Dementia: How harmful is game meat?
Anyone who eats a lot of game meat should be aware of the following study: scientists claim to have found that excessive consumption of processed meat could be linked to mental health problems and dementia. A team of researchers led by Dr. Robert Yolken of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore describe their findings in a research report published in the journal «Molecular Psychiatry». According to the study,
Anyone who eats a lot of game meat should be aware of the following study: scientists claim to have found that excessive consumption of processed meat could be linked to mental health problems and dementia.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Robert Yolken of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore describe their findings in a research report, published in the journal «Molecular Psychiatry», their findings.
According to the study, the consumption of processed meat such as game meat can promote serious mental health problems such as manic episodes lasting several weeks, as well as hyperactivity and sleep disorders.
Over 1’000 people between the ages of 18 and 65 were analyzed for this purpose — some with and some without mental health disorders.
Mania and meat consumption are linked
After the participants were asked about their meat consumption, it was shown that people who eat large amounts of processed meat such as game meat have a three-and-a-half times higher risk of manic episodes.
The study also indicates that those respondents who were already receiving treatment for bipolar disorder consumed significantly more processed meat than other study participants.
According to the study, this is mainly due to the nitrates used to preserve the processed meat. This preservative is said to affect the brain and gut bacteria of humans.
Game meat as a health hazard
It has long been known that high meat consumption can increase the risk of heart disease and cancer. A recent Chinese study also shows that saturated fatty acids, such as those found in game meat, increase the risk of dementia.
In the review study, researchers from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou compared international studies involving a total of 8,630 participants and 633 case studies. The result: a higher intake of animal fats increased the risk of Alzheimer's by 39 percent, while the risk of dementia rose by 105 percent.
The number of people with dementia has been rising worldwide for years. The disease is incurable, and currently available therapies can only slow the disease process. Additional risk factors for dementia linked to meat consumption in earlier studies include high blood pressure, smoking, depression, lack of exercise, social isolation, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. More on the hobby hunting.
