Research links highly processed foods to the risk of dementia and lower attention span
NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
It’s well known that ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) are unhealthy – but new research has found more evidence that these foods can have a negative impact on the brain.
The study, published in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia by the Alzheimer’s Association, revealed that UPFs are linked to more than 30 adverse health effects, including several risk factors for dementia, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Researchers from Australia’s Monash University analyzed more than 2,000 dementia-free Australian adults between the ages of 40 and 70, comparing their diet and cognitive function.
BLOOD PRESSURE AND RISK OF ADDICTION, RESEARCH SUGGESTIONS
They found that each 10% increase in UPF intake was associated with lower attention scores and a higher risk of dementia, regardless of whether older adults tended to follow a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet.
No significant link was found between UPF use and memory.
Each 10% increase in processed foods was associated with lower attention scores and a higher risk of dementia, the study found. (Stock)
By pointing to food processing as a contributor to poor understanding, the study “supports the need to refine dietary guidelines,” the researchers concluded.
DR. NICOLE SAPHIER AMERICA’S MOST MEDIAD FOOD: ‘PEOPLE BENEFIT BY CONNECTING’
Since the data were self-reported, this may limit the strength of the findings, the team noted.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Daniel Amen, a California-based psychiatrist and founder of Amen Clinics, discussed how food has a “powerful effect” on the brain.
“[The brain] it uses about 20% of the calories you eat, so the quality of those calories is important,” Dr. Daniel Amen told Fox News Digital. (Stock)
“Your brain is an energy-hungry organ,” he said. “It takes up about 20% of the calories you eat, so the quality of those calories is important.”
Food can be “medicine or poison,” according to the doctor, who called out processed foods such as packaged snacks, soft drinks and processed foods that are often high in sugar, unhealthy fats, additives and low-quality ingredients.
DEMENTIA RISK FOR PEOPLE 55 AND OLDER HAPPENS AGAIN, NEW STUDY FINDS
These foods can promote inflammation, insulin resistance, poor blood flow and oxidative stress, all of which are “bad for the brain,” according to Amen.
The neuroscientist noted that the study revealed that even a 10% increase in processed food – the equivalent of about a bag of chips a day – was linked to “a modest decrease in attention, even if people had an otherwise healthy diet.”
About one packet of chips a day can lead to cognitive changes, according to research findings. (Stock)
“Attention is the gateway to learning, memory, decision making and problem solving,” said Amen. “If you can’t focus, you can’t code fully.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLES
“The biggest takeaway,” according to the doctor, “is to love the food you love.”
“You may like the taste of chips, cookies and candy, but they don’t like you (or your brain),” he said. “Processed foods may claim to be sugar-free, low-carb or keto-friendly, but researchers note that ultraprocessing can destroy the natural structure of food – and can introduce additives or processing chemicals that may affect cognition.”
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH PAPER
Amen suggests sticking to real foods that come from plants or animals, instead of “plant-based” foods.
“Build a diet around colorful vegetables and fruits, clean proteins, healthy fats, nuts, seeds and fiber-rich carbohydrates,” he recommended. “Start by replacing the most processed foods in the day with a brain-healthy option.”
That might mean swapping chips for nuts, soda water or unsweetened green tea, and candy bars packed with berries. “Small decisions made consistently can change your brain and your life,” emphasizes the doctor.
Since UPFs have been shown to exacerbate several dementia risk factors, Amen stressed that people at risk of dementia should “take a serious role in prevention as soon as possible.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
“If you have a family history of dementia, memory problems, diabetes, high blood pressure or weight problems, your diet is not a side issue – it is the main intervention for brain health,” said Amen.
“Remember, you’re not stuck in the brain you have. You can make it better, and it starts with the next bite.”
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Fox News Digital has reached out to the study’s researchers for comment.
