Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: "Obesity causes the cells in the brain to wear out earlier, which increases the risk of Alzheimer's."
With the cooperation of Üsküdar University, Yıldız Technical University and the Chemists Association, President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan discussed the topic of "From Food Chemistry to Brain Chemistry: Brain-Food Relationship" at “the 4th International Food Chemistry Congress".
Stating that loneliness is one of the reasons for the increase in Alzheimer's disease, Prof. Tarhan said that eating habits also play a critical role in this process, and obesity causes the cells in the brain to wear out.
"There is more mental obesity than physical obesity," Tarhan said, noting that we manage the chemistry laboratory in our brain like a chemist.
Prof. Tarhan: "There is a great self-sustaining algorithm in our body. This algorithm is also managed by the brain. What we call therapy is actually correcting the algorithms in our brains."
Organized in cooperation with Üsküdar University, Yıldız Technical University and the Chemists Association with the theme of "Sustainability in Food Production" this year, “the "4th International Food Chemistry Congress" will be held between May 8-11, 2025 at Juju Premier Palace Hotel in Antalya/Kemer.
President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, who took part as the main speaker in the special session held within the scope of the congress, made a speech on "From Food Chemistry to Brain Chemistry: Brain-Food Relationship".
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: "Neuronutrition is a global scientific field that investigates the relationship between the brain and nutrition"
In the interview moderated by journalist Şaban Özdemir, President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the relationship between food chemistry and the human brain was examined from two basic perspectives under the title of "From Food Chemistry to Brain Chemistry: Brain-Food Relationship” and said that the first of these was the brain-gut axis and the second was the field of "neuro nutrition".
Stating that neuronutrition is a global scientific field that investigates the relationship between the brain and nutrition and that the association was established in the USA in 2014, Prof. Tarhan pointed to laboratory experiments conducted to show the effect of nutrition on behaviors and the potential for these effects to be transmitted to generations, and that what we eat affects our behaviors and personality, and that these effects have the potential to be passed on to generations through epigenetic mechanisms.
Pleasure-oriented life reduces serotonin, the happiness hormone in the brain!
Stating that epigenetics is related to the harmony of the conditions in the genes and that it creates learned genetic codes by silencing some gene regions and activating others, Prof. Tarhan stated that these codes can be passed on for one or two generations. Stating that eating habits are also learned and everyone has a different relationship with food, Prof. Tarhan noted that this can become a life purpose in regions where food culture is rich.
Drawing attention to the effects of modern life on brain chemistry, Prof. Tarhan stated that a pleasure-oriented lifestyle reduces serotonin, the happiness hormone in the brain, and increases depression.
We run the chemistry lab in our brains like a chemist!
Referring to the pleasure and meaning hormones in the brain, Prof. Tarhan said that dopamine and endorphins have pleasure and pleasure, adenosine (triggered by tea and coffee) has energizing properties, the happiness hormone produced with meaning, ideas and ideals is serotonin, and the attachment hormone is oxytocin.
"These hormones are in the chemistry lab in our brain, and we run this lab like a chemist. In fact, each of us is a chemist. The chemist of our own brain. Which one are we going to increase? Are we going to live dopamine-driven? Are we going to live serotonin-focused? We will decide on this," said Prof. Tarhan, adding that dopamine has a short-term effect, it is secreted while eating chocolate or watching action movies, and addiction is related to this mechanism.
Pointing out that being happy in the medium and long term can teach the brain, Prof. Tarhan emphasized that each individual has the responsibility of managing the chemistry in their own brain.
How do microplastics get to the brain?
Explaining how chemicals affect the human brain and stating that microplastics were detected in the brain in a recent study, Prof. Tarhan said that this is one of the alarming consequences of global pollution.
Stating that microplastics are detected everywhere, but it is a matter of curiosity how they are found in the brain, Prof. Tarhan said, "It entered the brain through the nose. That's where there are the most. And with breathing, it easily finds its way during a flu, it goes, it settles in the brain. Artificial substances such as food colorants and preservatives can also accumulate in the body, especially adipose tissue."
Stating that the wear and tear of telomeres in the brain is related to life span, Prof. Tarhan stated that programmed cell death (apoptosis) and telomere length determine biological age.
Our brains are programmed for survival
Reminding that autophagy (the body's cleaning of its own damaged cells) is a Nobel Prize-winning study, Prof. Tarhan said that 16 hours of fasting repairs DNA damage in the body. Prof. Tarhan said, "Because our brain is programmed according to survival. In other words, our priority in every environment is to survive." Emphasizing that nutrition is a critical factor in prolonging the life of telomeres and cell death, Prof. Tarhan said, "We can say that our body is shaped according to how we are fed."
In people who live with extreme stress and tempo, telomeres shorten prematurely
Stating that telomeres shorten prematurely in people who live with extreme stress and tempo, Prof. Tarhan stated that the endorphins secreted during sports have pain-relieving and pleasurable properties.
"The chemistry in the brain... Our brain governs the body with chemical messages. There are chemicals with chemical messages, that is, the so-called 5 horsemen of darkness. It's about these feelings; grudges, anger, hatred, jealousy, hostility. There is a different chemical mixture in every emotion," said Prof. Tarhan, explaining that chronic stress is one of the causes of premature aging and that factors such as malnutrition, chronic stress, diabetes, cholesterol and obesity accelerate this process.
The relationship between autism and nutrition...
Drawing attention to the role of nutrition and especially the intestinal microbiota in autism, Prof. Tarhan stated that autism is an important area and that microbiota and eating habits should be examined, especially in children, and said, "Autism does not occur because the child is fed, but there are antibodies produced by the intestinal microbiota. Those antibodies see the brain as foreign tissue and send antibodies to the network in the brain and disrupt the network."
Referring to the importance of the autism susceptibility panel, Prof. Tarhan said, "If there is an autism susceptibility panel, it is a genetic panel. There are 8-10 genes that are examined. If there are some of those genes, that person can be advised on eating habits according to the type of that gene."
Stating that autism cases have increased alarmingly in the world, from one in a thousand to one in 36 births, Prof. Tarhan said that in addition to the increase in diagnosis, there is a serious increase in clinical cases.
"We have a great algorithm in our body. This algorithm is controlled by the brain."
Noting that excessive control can lead to health problems, Prof. Tarhan said, "We are now approaching tissues with a respectful medical approach. We will treat our body and tissues with respect. We will not act aggressively. If we treat it with respect, our body finds its own solution. It is better not to interfere there, or even to confuse it. There is a terrific self-sustaining algorithm in our body. This algorithm is also managed by the brain. What we call therapy is actually correcting the algorithms in our brains."
Our brain works like artificial intelligence
Stating that the brain works like artificial intelligence and that one of the recipients of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics is a cognitive psychologist, Prof. Tarhan said that cognitive psychology is a branch of science that sees the brain as a computer. Stating that the other awardee is a geneticist working on artificial neural networks and genetic algorithms, Prof. Tarhan said that "In other words, these two are actually the working system of our brain. Neural network and genetic algorithm. Genetic algorithms are also innate. We also have algorithms in our brains that we have been teaching since childhood. Epigenetics and social algorithms. With this, we are actually us. Our personality comes out."
Obesity is common in Alzheimer's patients
Stating that loneliness is one of the reasons for the increase in Alzheimer's disease, Prof. Tarhan emphasized that eating habits also play a critical role in this process.
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that "One of the reasons for the increase, especially in the formation of Alzheimer's disease, is the eating habits of individuals. Today, it is noteworthy that obesity is frequently seen in Alzheimer's patients. Obesity causes cells in the brain to wear out earlier, which increases the risk of Alzheimer's. Therefore, obesity is an extremely important risk factor not only for physical health but also for brain health. Obesity has a great effect on cell aging and death processes. This condition is directly related to improper nutrition. Especially a carbohydrate-based diet carries a great risk in this context. Putting a carbohydrate-oriented diet at the center of life is almost like a conscious suicide."
There is more mental obesity than physical obesity!
"When you see an obese person, it is necessary to investigate why they eat. The person is emotional, in fact, there is more mental obesity than physical obesity. His mind is not satisfied," said Prof. Tarhan, and said that refined foods, which create short-term pleasure in the brain and mix with the blood quickly, give pleasure by suddenly raising blood sugar, but then cause reactive hypoglycemia, which causes the person to feel severe hunger again after 2-3 hours.
Emphasizing that emotional eating style leads to obesity, Prof. Tarhan stated that in physical hunger, the person is full when he is hungry and eats, but in emotional hunger, the person is not full even though he eats and constantly wants to eat.
Prof. Tarhan reminded that obesity is a global problem and that Türkiye ranks third in the world in obesity prevalence.
The future is in neurochemistry...
Noting that habits in youth can cause health problems in later ages, Prof. Tarhan stated that rising triglycerides are not caused by fats, but by the conversion of excess carbohydrates into fat.
Drawing attention to the close relationship between nutrition and chemistry, Prof. Tarhan stated that the future is in neurochemistry and that new drugs that affect hunger and satiety will be discovered here.
Expressing that the way to make people happy is not through pleasure, but through a meaning-oriented philosophy of life, Prof. Tarhan said that "One of the most important things that brain sciences show us today is that the way to make people happy is not through pleasure, but through a meaning-oriented philosophy of life. The scientific name of this is Positive Psychology, and today, with an approach called Positive Psychology 2.0, meaning and purpose-oriented therapeutic techniques come to the fore. These techniques are methods that a person can learn and improve himself during the dopamine detox process. Sometimes, without the need for an expert, the person can learn and apply these techniques if they wish."
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)