A new study finds that higher intake of ultraprocessed foods is associated with increased risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. Reporting across multiple outlets, researchers examined older adults’ diets and then tracked outcomes over time. People in the highest ultraprocessed-food intake group are reported to have a 58% higher risk of developing dementia later in life. The study also reports a 46% increased risk of cognitive impairment for those with higher ultraprocessed-food consumption. Several sources say processed meats make a substantial contribution to the observed cognitive risk. Other ultraprocessed items mentioned include sugar-sweetened drinks and packaged snacks. One report additionally highlights cognitive changes beyond dementia risk, describing findings such as poorer attention and slower mental processing among people who eat more ultraprocessed foods, including those whose overall diets are otherwise considered healthy. While the studies point to an association between ultraprocessed foods and adverse brain outcomes, the articles do not indicate a direct cause-and-effect. Overall, the coverage emphasizes potential “hidden” cognitive costs of heavily processed food and calls attention to the types of foods most often implicated.
Study links high ultraprocessed food intake to higher dementia risk
A new study finds that higher intake of ultraprocessed foods is associated with increased risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. Reporting across multiple outlets, researchers examined older adult...
- A new study reports an association between higher ultraprocessed food intake and later dementia risk.
- Higher intake is linked to a reported 58% increased risk of developing dementia.
- Higher intake is also linked to a reported 46% increased risk of cognitive impairment.
- Processed meats are identified as contributing substantially to the cognitive decline association.
- In one related analysis, greater ultraprocessed food consumption is linked to worse attention and slower mental processing.
A study of more than 2,100 adults found that eating more ultra-processed foods was linked to poorer attention and slower mental processing, even among people with otherwise healthy diets. Researchers also found higher consumption was associated with increased dementia risk factors, raising concerns about the hidden cognitive costs of heavily processed foods.
3 days agoProcessed meats contribute most to cognitive decline, a new Harvard study has found. But some foods have the opposite effect.
5 days agoProcessed meats contribute most to cognitive decline, a new Harvard study has found. But some foods have the opposite effect.
5 days agoProcessed meats contribute most to cognitive decline, a new Harvard study has found. But some foods have the opposite effect.
5 days ago(MedPage Today) -- People who consumed the most ultraprocessed foods -- sugar-sweetened drinks, packaged snacks, or processed meats, for example -- were more likely to develop a composite outcome of dementia or cognitive impairment compared...
1 week agoA new study suggests a link between ultra-processed foods and an increased risk of dementia in older adults. Researchers found that a group of people who reported eating diets high in ultraprocessed foods had a 58% higher risk of developing dementia later in life and a 46% increased risk of developing cognitive impairment. CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Céline Gounder has more.
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