Since many years ago, scientists have been aware that poor diets, especially those high in fat and sugar, can harm the brain and impair cognitive function.
A person has little control over many factors that affect cognitive decline, such as genetics and socioeconomic factors. However, more and more evidence is pointing to a poor diet as a risk factor for memory loss as people age normally and as a contributor to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Ultra-processed food consumption may exacerbate age-related cognitive decline and raise the risk of dementia, according to two recent large-scale studies. Another recent study, however, found no link between eating foods that have undergone extreme processing and cognitive decline in adults over the age of 60.
As a neuroscientist who studies how diet can affect cognition later in life, I find that these preliminary studies add a new layer for thinking about how essential nutrition is to brain health, even though more research is required.
Several ingredients, little nutritional value
Compared to unprocessed or minimally processed foods, ultra-processed foods typically have lower nutrient and fiber contents and higher levels of sugar, fat, and salt. Soda, packaged cookies, chips, frozen meals, flavored nuts, flavored yogurt, distilled alcoholic beverages, and fast food are a few examples of ultra-processed foods. Because of the additives and preservatives they contain, even packaged breads, including those rich in nutritive whole grains, qualify as ultra-processed in many situations.
