Trans fats may hurt memory

Artificial trans fats in processed foods, which were all but banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week, may interfere with memory, according to a new study.

It’s not clear if trans-unsaturated fatty acids, or trans fats, might interfere with memory by directly affecting the nervous system, or by contributing to overall cardiovascular disease, which harms the brain as well, researchers say.

On Tuesday, following a two-year public comment period, the FDA released a final determination that artificial trans fats in processed foods are not “generally recognized as safe.” Food manufacturers now have . . .