A new study has found that consuming ultra-processed foods such as fizzy drinks, chocolate, and crisps is associated with a 58% higher risk of developing dementia. The research, which followed over 72,000 UK adults aged 55 and older for an average of 10 years, also revealed that replacing these foods with unprocessed or minimally processed options can significantly lower dementia risk.
According to the study, published in the journal Neurology, participants who ate the most ultra-processed foods had a 58% higher risk of dementia compared to those who ate the least. For every 10% increase in daily intake of ultra-processed foods, the risk of dementia rose by 25%. Conversely, substituting just 10% of ultra-processed foods with unprocessed or minimally processed foods was linked to a 19% lower risk.
Ultra-processed foods, which are high in added sugar, fat, and salt but low in protein and fibre, include soft drinks, salty snacks, ice cream, sausages, deep-fried chicken, and flavoured cereals. The researchers noted that these foods may contain additives or molecules from packaging that could negatively affect thinking and memory skills.
Study author Huiping Li, of Tianjin Medical University in China, said: 'Ultra-processed foods are meant to be convenient and tasty, but they diminish the quality of a person’s diet. Our research not only found that ultra-processed foods are associated with an increased risk of dementia, it found replacing them with healthy options may decrease dementia risk.'
The study found that increasing unprocessed or minimally processed foods by just 50 grammes a day—equivalent to half an apple—while decreasing ultra-processed foods by the same amount—equivalent to a chocolate bar—was associated with a 3% lower risk of dementia. The researchers emphasised that their findings show an association, not proof that ultra-processed foods cause dementia.
