The brain-suffocating condiment. Is it causing dementia?

Too much salt and Alzheimer's. How does salt affect the brain? Overeating salt could cause Alzheimer's disease, one of the most common forms of dementia. A new study shows that too much salt can affect blood flow to the brain and how neurons work. A new study in Cell Reports shows how too much salt damages the brain. They used special techniques to examine the hypothalamus, which controls many body functions. They found that people who ate a lot of salt had unusual brain activity. Eating a lot of salt causes the brain to try to control the sodium level in the blood. This stimulates the production of vasopressin, which plays a vital role in this, explains Dr. Javier Stern, a professor of neuroscience at the University of Georgia. Previous studies have suggested a link between neuronal activity and high blood pressure. However, the researchers found that the increased production of vasopressin decreased blood circulation by narrowing the arteries in the brain. We were surprised by the results because we had seen that blood vessels narrow when people overeat salt. This is often seen in people with Alzheimer's after a heart attack or stroke. The doctor added that it is like a constant lack of oxygen that gradually destroys brain tissue. The study raises questions about how high blood pressure affects the brain, mainly since over half of all cases of high blood pressure are caused by overeating salt. The most salty foods are cold cuts, pickles, canned goods, olives, smoked meats, marinated fish, cereals, bread, ketchup, soy sauce, mayonnaise, vegetable seasoning mixes, chips, peanuts, popcorn, packet soups, and various cheeses. The recommended daily amount of salt is 5 grams or one teaspoon. If you are over 50 or have high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney disease, diabetes, or osteoporosis, you should eat no more than 1.5-2 grams of salt daily.