The foods filling many supermarket shelves today could be influencing far more than waistlines and heart health. According to a new review of research, diets high in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) may also affect how the brain ages, potentially raising the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. The review, published in the journal Annual Review of Nutrition, examined growing evidence linking ultra-processed foods to poorer brain health in older adults.
These foods are industrially manufactured products that typically contain ingredients not commonly used in home cooking, such as flavor enhancers, emulsifiers, artificial sweeteners and preservatives. Examples include many packaged snacks, sugary drinks, instant meals, processed meats and some breakfast cereals. Researchers found that people who consume larger amounts of these foods tend to perform worse on tests of memory and thinking skills, and may face a higher risk of developing dementia later in life.
Owen Carmichael, the director of biomedical imaging at Pennington Biomedical Research Center and lead author of the paper, he was surprised by how little research has been done on the link between ultra-processed foods and brain health so far. Scientists believe several mechanisms could be involved. Ultra-processed foods are often high in added sugars, unhealthy fats and sodium while containing lower levels of nutrients known to support healthy brain function.
Diets rich in these products have also been linked to obesity, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, all of which are associated with a greater risk of dementia. Inflammation may be another important factor. Previous research has suggested that ultra-processed foods can promote chronic, low-grade inflammation throughout the body.
Researchers suspect this inflammation may eventually affect the brain, potentially accelerating age-related cognitive decline. There is also growing interest in the gut-brain connection. Some studies indicate that highly processed diets can alter the balance of microbes living in the digestive tract.
Because these microbes help regulate immune responses and communicate with the brain, disruptions to the gut microbiome could influence cognition and mental health. The authors stressed that not all processed foods should be viewed equally. Many minimally processed foods, such as frozen vegetables, canned beans and whole-grain products, can still play a valuable role in a healthy diet.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
