Foods to Avoid to Lower Alzheimer’s Risk
- Ultra-processed foods and diets high in meat are linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and damage to the brain's blood vessels, according to two separate studies...
- The review published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease identified red and processed meats such as hot dogs, hamburgers, sausages, and salami as major contributors to risk.
- Complementing those findings, a study published in JAMA Network Open by McMaster University researchers examined 8,783 Canadian adults aged 35 to 69 with no prior cardiovascular disease.
Ultra-processed foods and diets high in meat are linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and damage to the brain’s blood vessels, according to two separate studies published in scientific journals. Research analyzing over 250 global studies for the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found links between specific dietary patterns and a heightened risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Dietary Factors Linked to Brain Health Risks
The review published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease identified red and processed meats such as hot dogs, hamburgers, sausages, and salami as major contributors to risk. Researchers pointed to refined rice, wheat, sugary drinks, potatoes, and fruit juice as key culprits that drive inflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, elevated homocysteine, and glikotoxin levels.
Complementing those findings, a study published in JAMA Network Open by McMaster University researchers examined 8,783 Canadian adults aged 35 to 69 with no prior cardiovascular disease. Scientists used MRI scans and cognitive tests to evaluate participants’ diets and brain health.
Vascular Damage Independent of Body Weight
McMaster University nutritionist Russell de Souza explained that cerebral vascular damage serves as a marker for blood supply disorders in the brain, which prior research links to elevated stroke risks, cognitive impairment, and increased dementia vulnerability. The Canadian study specifically tracked two types of tissue abnormalities: tissue carrying signals between brain areas and tissue areas harmed by interrupted blood flow.
The researchers adjusted their data to account for body weight and found that obesity alone did not explain the vascular damage. A person with a lean body who consumed high levels of ultra-processed foods faced greater risks than an individual with obesity who avoided those products.
Future Long Term Monitoring Needs
While the Canadian study detected physical damage to the brain’s vascular network among heavy consumers of ultra-processed foods, the participants’ cognitive test scores were not worse, which researchers attribute to the possibility that this effect may appear later. Scientists plan to observe the health data of the participants over a longer period in the future.
