Eating ultra-processed food linked to faster cognitive decline in older adults, study says

FILE IMAGES - Chips, canned ring-shaped pasta in tomato sauces, and packaged cookies are shown in file images. (Photo illustration by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) SAN DIEGO - While most people are aware that consuming lots of processed frozen meals, hot dogs, and sugary drinks may not be best for your overall health, new research suggests that eating a large amount of these ultra-processed foods can greatly impact brain function over time.

The new study, presented this week at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2022 in San Diego, examined the eating habits of more than 10,000 adults in Brazil with an average age of 50.6 years.

The participants answered questionnaires and were followed over an average of nine years.Participants who ate more than 20% of their daily calorie intake from ultra-processed foods — or those with large amounts of fats, sugar, salt, artificial flavors, and preservatives — were more likely to have a decline in cognitive function, particularly memory and executive function.

Furthermore, men and women who ate the most ultra-processed foods in the study had a 28% faster rate of global cognitive decline and a 25% faster decrease in executive function, compared to those who reported eating less, co-investigator Natalia Goncalves, Ph.D., with the University of São Paulo Medical School, told Medscape Medical News."Ultra-processed foods make up more than half of American diets," said Percy Griffin, PhD, the director of scientific engagement for the Alzheimer’s Association, in a statement provided to FOX Television Stations. "It’s troubling but not surprising to see new data suggesting these foods can significantly accelerate cognitive decline."Griffin added that the increase in availability.