A new study has found that eating too many ultra-processed foods, such as potato chips and frozen pizza, may lead to an increased risk of memory problems and stroke.
The research team from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston explained that there may be a link between a diet rich in ultra-processed foods, which are high in sugar, fat and salt, and the possibility of cognitive decline and life-threatening medical conditions.
The study included 30,239 people aged 45 years or older, with an average follow-up of 11 years.
Participants filled out questionnaires about what they ate and drank, allowing the researchers to determine how much ultra-processed food each person ate on average daily.
At the end of the study, 768 people were diagnosed with cognitive impairment, and 1,108 people had a stroke.
The analysis revealed that a 10% increase in the amount of ultra-processed foods consumed was associated with a 16% increased risk of cognitive impairment. Eating more unprocessed foods was associated with a 12% lower risk of cognitive impairment.
Eating higher amounts of ultra-processed foods was associated with an 8% increased risk of stroke, while eating higher amounts of less processed foods was associated with a 9% lower risk of stroke.
Study author Dr. William Kimberley said: “The results show that the degree of food processing plays an important role in overall brain health. More research is needed to confirm the findings and better understand which food components or processing contribute most to these health effects.”
The results were published in the journal Neuroscience.
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