A systematic review of the neuropathology and
memory decline induced by monosodium
glutamate in the Alzheimer’s disease-like animal model

Pathologies similar to AD, including neuronal shrinkage and short-term memory impairment, were demonstrated by MSG at an early age. Illness-risk groups should attempt to reduce their MSG consumption because it can contribute to a greater illness burden. The continued correlation between high levels of MSG consumption and memory impairment suggests that caution is warranted. Unbiased food choices, especially those that are made possible by ingredient labeling, may be harmful to children’s health if they are made without taking into account the total quantity of MSG consumed. Children and offspring of mothers who consume MSG during pregnancy may experience a negative effect on cognitive development. More extensive research over a longer time frame and more precise behavioral characterization is required to evaluate the robustness of these correlations and establish whether MSG may be used to simulate AD.