New Study Links Ultra-Processed Foods to Poorer Attention and Increased Dementia Risk
A recent study has found an association between higher consumption of ultra-processed foods and poorer attention, as well as increased estimated dementia risk scores. Dr. Darren Gitelman, a behavioral neurologist and senior medical director of Advocate Memory Center at Advocate Health Care, emphasized that while the study does not definitively prove causation, it contributes to a growing body of research exploring the impact of diet on brain health. Ultra-processed foods are defined as industrially produced items containing ingredients not typically used in home cooking, such as artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives. Examples include many packaged snacks, sugary drinks, frozen meals, and processed meats. In the study, ultra-processed foods constituted approximately 41% of participants' daily caloric intake. Notably, even individuals who largely adhered to a Mediterranean-style diet exhibited poorer attention scores when their consumption of ultra-processed foods was higher. Dr. Gitelman...
