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.