Researchers Find Link Between Processed Foods, Attention Decline, and Dementia Risk

Your brain may be snacking on more than just chips-it could be paying the price in focus and long-term health. A new study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment, & Disease Monitoring links higher intake of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) to poorer attention and increased scores on a modifiable dementia-risk index.

UPFs—industrial formulations packed with refined ingredients, additives, and minimal whole foods—now make up a significant portion of modern diets. In this study of over 2,100 adults aged 40 to 70, UPFs accounted for about 41% of total energy intake. Common sources included sweetened drinks, packaged snacks, processed meats, and ready meals.

The findings revealed a subtle but consistent trend: as UPF intake increased, attention scores declined. A 10% rise in UPF consumption—roughly equivalent to adding a packet of chips daily—was associated with a small drop in attention performance. At the same time, scores on a dementia-risk index rose, suggesting a potential link between these foods and long-term brain health.

Interestingly, these associations persisted even after adjusting for overall diet quality, including adherence to healthier patterns like the Mediterranean diet. This suggests that the effects of UPFs may go beyond simply displacing nutritious foods—they may have independent impacts on the brain.

Researchers propose several possible explanations. UPFs are already known to affect cardiometabolic health, which contributes to dementia risk. They may also disrupt the gut microbiome, triggering inflammation through the gut-brain axis—a pathway increasingly linked to cognitive function.

However, the study does not prove cause and effect. Still, the results add to growing evidence that how food is processed—not just what it contains—matters for brain health.

As researchers call for long-term studies, one takeaway is already clear: small dietary shifts today could help protect cognitive function tomorrow.

REFERENCE: Cardoso, B. R., Steele, E., M., Brayner, B., et al (2026). Ultra-processed food intake, cognitive function, and dementia risk: A cross-sectional study of middle-aged and older Australian adults. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment, & Disease Monitoring. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.70335. https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/dad2.70335