Effects of processed foods on brain reward circuitry and food CUE learning

Active Project Grant Awarded Last action

Award ID
R01DK136030
Recipient
Awarding agency
Obligated
$3,085,279

Award facts

Completion date 53% complete
Place of performance
Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA

Award details come from USAspending.gov.

Description

As the agency reported it.

Abstract
Obesity is the second leading cause of premature death. Consumption of ultra-processed foods is theorized to be a key cause of obesity. Ultra-processed foods are formulations of cheap industrial sources of dietary energy and nutrients plus additives such as FAT, sugar, and flavors that enhance acceptability of the foods. A cross- over experiment with overweight adults found that ad LIB access to an ultra-processed diet for 2-weeks resulted in increased caloric intake (508 kcal/day) and more weight gain versus ad LIB access to a minimally-processed diet matched for presented calories, energy density, macronutrients, sugar, sodium, and fiber (hall ET AL., 2019). The fact that ad LIB access to ultra-processed foods resulted in a large increase in caloric intake and weight gain implies that ultra-processed foods may more effectively activate brain regions implicated in reward processing, attention/salience, and memory that influence eating behavior. However, no brain imaging study has experimentally tested whether ultra-processed foods are more effective in activating brain regions implicated in reward, attention, and memory than minimally-processed foods or experimentally investigated the relative role of the elevated caloric density versus the flavor enhancers of ultra-processed foods in driving greater activation of these brain regions. Preliminary data showed that tastes of ultra-processed high-calorie chocolate milkshake produced greater activation in regions implicated in reward valuation (caudate, nucleus accumbens), attention/salience (precuneus), and memory retrieval (medial temporal gyrus, dorsomedial prefrontal cortex) than tastes of ultra-processed low-calorie chocolate milkshake. Aim 1 is to test the hypothesis that tastes, anticipated tastes, and images of ultra-processed foods activate reward, attention, and memory regions more than tastes, anticipated tastes, and images of minimally-processed foods, and evaluate the relative role of the higher caloric content versus flavor enhancers in engaging these regions using a 2 x 2 experimental design. Aim 2 is to test the hypothesis that ultra-processed versus minimally-processed foods promote stronger learning of cues that predict tastes of ultra-processed foods (incentive sensitization), which is important because elevated reward region response to food cues/images increases risk for future weight gain (demos ET AL., 2012; stice ET AL., 2015; yokum ET AL., 2014). Aim 3 is to test the hypothesis that participants who show greater activation in reward/attention/memory regions in response to ultra-processed foods will consume more ultra-processed foods ad LIB and show greater future body FAT gain, and to establish neural fingerprints that predict ad LIB ultra-processed food intake and body FAT gain. Aim 4 is to test the hypothesis that participants who show stronger reward CUE learning in response to ultra-processed foods will consume more ultra-processed foods ad LIB and show greater future body FAT gain. Improved knowledge of neural factors that increase risk for body FAT gain should guide the design of more effective obesity prevention programs and treatments, which is critical because current prevention programs and treatments have limited efficacy.

Transactions

Action Obligated Date
Amendment $605,651
Amendment $60,135
Amendment $60,135
Amendment $541,230
Amendment $541,230
Amendment $638,449
Original award $638,449

Subawards

Subrecipient Amount Awarded
Monell Chemical Senses Center Effects of Processed Foods on Brain Reward Circuitry and Food Cue Learning $58,810
Oregon Research Institute Sonja Yokum, Ph.D., Co-Investigator, (2.4 Cal Mos. YR 1-3, 3.0 Cal Mos. YR 4-5) is a Research Scientist who works at Oregon Research Institute (ORI). Dr.… $48,218
Monell Chemical Senses Center Effects of Processed Foods on Brain Reward Circuitry and Food Cue Learning $70,855
Oregon Research Institute Sonja Yokum, Ph.D., Co-Investigator, (2.4 Cal Mos. YR 1-3, 3.0 Cal Mos. YR 4-5) is a Research Scientist who works at Oregon Research Institute (ORI). Dr.… $5,810
Oregon Research Institute $52,285
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill In combination with the investigative team, Dr. Burger will contribute to protocol development and adherence, particularly of food-related aspects throughout… $70,785
Oregon Research Institute Sonja Yokum, Ph.D., Co-Investigator, (2.4 Cal Mos. YR 1-3, 3.0 Cal Mos. YR 4-5) is a Research Scientist who works at Oregon Research Institute (ORI). Dr.… $61,266

Quick answers

Who received award R01DK136030?

R01DK136030 was awarded to The Leland Stanford Junior University by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (National Institutes of Health) on March 1, 2024.

How much is award R01DK136030 worth?

$3,085,279 has been obligated on R01DK136030.

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