04.10.2024.

A study has found that swapping just 10% of ultra-processed foods for healthier, unprocessed or minimally processed alternatives—like fruits and vegetables—could reduce the risk of dementia by 19%. While the study doesn’t claim that ultra-processed foods directly cause dementia, it highlights a strong link between dietary habits and brain health. Published on July 27, 2022, in Neurology, this research adds to the growing body of evidence on the impact of diet on cognitive decline.

The authors investigated the associations between ultra-processed foods (UPF) and dementia incidence using data from the UK Biobank. Researchers analyzed the dietary habits of more than 72,000 individuals aged 55 and older who did not have dementia and followed them for an average of 10 years. By the end of the study period, 518 participants had been diagnosed with dementia.

Based on dietary questionnaires administered at least twice during the study,

Even after adjusting for other established risk factors, they found that individuals consuming the largest amounts of these foods had a 25% higher risk of dementia compared to those who consumed less.

Ultra-processed foods are defined as those high in added sugar, fat, and salt, and low in protein and fiber. Examples include soft drinks, salty and sugary snacks, ice cream, sausages, deep-fried chicken, ketchup, and mayonnaise.

There is a growing body of evidence linking the consumption of ultra-processed foods with adverse health outcomes, including depression, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality.

Authors of the study: Huiping Li, PhD; Shu Li, PhD; Hongxi Yang, PhD; Yuan Zhang, PhD; Shunming Zhang, PhD; Yue Ma, PhD; Yabing Hou, PhD; Xinyu Zhang, PhD; Kaijun Niu, PhD; Yan Borné, PhD; and Yaogang Wang, PhD.

SOURCE:

Association of Ultraprocessed Food Consumption With Risk of Dementia | Neurology

Cutting back on ultra-processed foods linked with lower dementia risk – Harvard Health