Consumption of Ultraprocessed Foods linked with Cognitive Decline: JAMA Neurology study

A higher percentage of daily consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with cognitive decline among adults from an ethnically diverse sample, according to a recent study published in JAMA Neurology.

Although the consumption of ultra-processed food has been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and obesity, little is known about the association of the consumption of ultra-processed foods with cognitive decline.

To investigate the association between ultra-processed food consumption and cognitive decline, Natalia Gomes Gonçalves et al conducted a multicenter, prospective cohort study with 3 waves, approximately 4 years apart, from 2008 to 2017. Data were analyzed from December 2021 to May 2022. Participants were public servants aged 35 to 74 years old recruited in 6 Brazilian cities. Participants who, at baseline, had incomplete food frequency questionnaire, cognitive, or covariate data were excluded. Participants who reported extreme calorie intake and those taking medication that could negatively interfere with cognitive performance were also excluded.

Changes in cognitive performance over time were evaluated by the immediate and delayed word recall, word recognition, phonemic and semantic verbal fluency tests, and Trail-Making Test B version.

During a median follow-up of 8 years, individuals with ultra-processed food consumption above the first quartile showed a 28% faster rate of global cognitive decline and a 25% faster rate of executive function decline compared with those in the first quartile. These findings support current public health recommendations on limiting ultra-processed food consumption because of their potential harm to cognitive function.

Reference:

Gomes Gonçalves N, Vidal Ferreira N, Khandpur N, et al. Association Between Consumption of Ultraprocessed Foods and Cognitive Decline. JAMA Neurol. Published online December 05, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.4397