Dementia risk linked to everyday food millions eat, study suggests

A new study suggests that eating more ultraprocessed foods may increase dementia risk and harm attention, even in people who otherwise follow healthy diets.

Dig deeper:

The study, published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia by the Alzheimer’s Association, found that ultraprocessed foods are linked to more than 30 negative health outcomes, including key dementia risk factors such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Researchers at Monash University in Australia examined more than 2,000 dementia-free adults ages 40 to 70, comparing their diets with measures of cognitive function.

They found that every 10% increase in ultraprocessed food intake was tied to lower attention scores and a higher risk of dementia, regardless of whether participants followed a generally healthy diet like the Mediterranean diet.

RELATED: This common habit could be quietly hurting men’s fertility, experts warn

No significant association was found between ultraprocessed food consumption and memory.

The findings suggest that food processing itself may play a role in cognitive decline and highlight the need to refine dietary guidelines, the researchers said.

The team noted that the study relied on self-reported data, which may limit the strength of the conclusions.

What they're saying:

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Daniel Amen, a California-based psychiatrist and founder of Amen Clinics, said diet has a "powerful impact" on brain health.

"Your brain is an energy-hungry organ," he said. "It uses about 20% of the calories you consume, so the quality of those calories matters."

RELATED: U.S. officials stop publication of COVID vaccine effectiveness study

Amen described food as either "medicine or poison," pointing to ultraprocessed items like packaged snacks, soft drinks and ready-made meals, which are often high in sugar, unhealthy fats and additives. He said these foods can drive inflammation, insulin resistance, poor blood flow and oxidative stress — all of which are "bad for the brain."

He also highlighted the study’s finding that even a 10% increase in ultraprocessed food intake — roughly a pack of chips per day — was linked to a "measurable drop in attention, even when people had otherwise healthy diets."

"Attention is the gateway to learning, memory, decision-making and problem-solving," Amen said. "If you can’t focus, you can’t fully encode information."

The "big takeaway," he said, is to "love foods that love you back."

"You may love the taste of chips, cookies and candy, but they don’t love you (or your brain) back," he added. "Ultraprocessed foods may claim to be sugar-free, low-carb or keto-friendly, but researchers noted that ultraprocessing can destroy the natural structure of food — and can introduce additives or processing chemicals that may affect cognition."

Amen recommends choosing whole foods that come from plants or animals, rather than those "made in plants."

"Build meals around colorful vegetables and fruits, clean protein, healthy fats, nuts, seeds and high-fiber carbohydrates," he said. "Start by replacing one ultraprocessed food per day with a brain-healthy option."

That could include swapping chips for nuts, soda for water or unsweetened green tea, and packaged sweets for berries. "Small choices done consistently can change your brain and your life," he emphasized.

Big picture view:

Because ultraprocessed foods have been linked to worsening key dementia risk factors, Amen urged those at risk of cognitive decline to "get serious about prevention as early as possible."

"If you have a family history of dementia, memory concerns, diabetes, high blood pressure or weight issues, your diet is not a side issue – it's a primary brain-health intervention," he said.

"Remember, you’re not stuck with the brain you have. You can make it better, and it starts with the next bite."

Fox News Digital has reached out to the study’s researchers for comment.

 

HealthFood and Drink