How have high-quality diets impacted human brain size?
Explore the genetic link between diet and brain size.
- High-quality diets, rich in animal proteins and fats, provided more energy and nutrients essential for brain growth during human evolution.
- Access to calorie-dense foods allowed early humans to support larger brains, which are metabolically expensive organs.
- Genetic adaptations, such as changes in genes related to fat metabolism (e.g., FADS genes), enabled efficient processing of these nutrient-rich foods.
- Evolution favored individuals with genetic traits that supported better nutrient absorption and brain development, promoting larger brain sizes.
- Some genes linked to brain growth (e.g., ASPM, MCPH1) may have co-evolved with dietary changes, supporting cognitive advancements.
- Overall, a feedback loop developed: improved diet led to larger brains, which facilitated more complex behaviors, including better food acquisition strategies.
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