How do ultra-processed foods affect brain health as we age?
New research in the American Journal of Public Health pulls the curtain back on ultra-processed food and helps bring the science into the open.
A large, nationally representative study of more than 5,000 U.S. adults age 50 and older found that diets higher in ultra-processed foods are linked to a greater risk of cognitive impairment, including dementia.
Following the same individuals over nearly a decade, researchers found that people who ate the most ultra-processed foods were more likely to develop cognitive impairment compared to those who ate the least. In contrast, diets higher in minimally processed foods — like fruits, vegetables, and whole foods — were associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment.
Certain types of ultra-processed foods, particularly processed meats, were more strongly linked to cognitive impairment.
The takeaway: diets high in ultra-processed foods may not just affect physical health; they may also increase the risk of cognitive decline over time. Choosing more whole and minimally processed foods may help support brain health as we age.
