New research suggests that consuming trans fat could worsen one's memory.

Researchers at the University of California-San Diego found that higher consumption of dietary trans fatty acids (dTFA), commonly used in processed foods to improve taste, texture and durability, has been linked to worsened memory function in men 45 years old and younger,

"Trans fats were most strongly linked to worse memory in men during their high productivity years," Beatrice A. Golomb, lead author of the study, said in a statement. "Trans fat consumption has previously shown adverse associations to behavior and mood -- other pillars of brain function. However, to our knowledge a relation to memory or cognition had not been shown."

For the study, researchers evaluated data from more than 1,000 people who were asked to complete a dietary survey and memory test involving word recall. On average, men aged 45 and younger recalled 86 words; however, for each additional gram of trans fats consumed daily, performance dropped by 0.76 words. This translates to an expected 12 fewer words recalled by young men with dTFA intake levels matching the highest observed in the study, compared to otherwise similar men consuming no trans fats.

They found that an association of dTFA to word memory was not observed in older populations. Golomb said this is likely due to dietary effects showing more clearly in younger adults. Insults and injuries to the brain accrue with age and add variability to memory scores that can swamp ability to detect diet effects.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, reducing dTFA consumption could prevent 10,000 to 20,000 heart attacks and 3,000 to 7,000 coronary heart disease deaths per year in the U.S.

"As I tell patients, while trans fats increase the shelf life of foods, they reduce the shelf life of people," Golomb said.

The findings are detailed in PLOS One.